Unit 4, Chapter 15, The Digestive/Gastrointestinal System

esophagus

a collapsible, muscular tube from the pharynx connecting the mouth to the stomach, through which pass the food and water the body ingests; has two layers of involuntary muscles: the inner layer forms circles around it, whereas the outer layer runs longitudinally along its approximately 10-inch length; uses wave-like contractions called peristalsis to propel food into the stomach

impaction

a collection of hardened feces in the rectum that cannot be expelled

enzyme

a complex chemical substance produced by the body, found primarily in the digestive juices, that acts upon food substances to break them down for absorption

hydrochloric acid

a digestive juice found in the stomach

saliva

a digestive secretion of the salivary glands that begins the digestion of food -- primarily the breakdown of starch or complex carbohydrates by way of an enzyme called amylase -- and empties into the stomach

stomach

a dilated, letter J-shaped, 10-inch-long, saclike, distensible portion of the alimentary canal located below the esophagus and diaphragm, and before the small intestine, in the left upper quadrant (LUQ); constructed of three layers of strong muscle tissue; located in the left upper quadrant; receives food from esophagus and continues breakdown using gastric juices; propels food to small intestine and contains rugae

common bile duct

a duct carrying bile from the hepatic and cystic ducts to the duodenum

exocrine gland

a gland that secretes its product to the outside world; secretes through ducts

insulin

a hormone secreted by the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas

incontinent

a patient's condition interferes with the ability to control the anus, as in a stroke with paralysis, and the rectum empties whenever the nerve impulse is triggered

mesentery

a peritoneal fold connecting the intestine to the posterior abdominal wall

peristalsis

a progressive, wavelike muscular movement that occurs involuntarily in the urinary and digestive systems

reflux

a return or backward flow

bile

a secretion of the liver that is required to digest fats; a greenish-yellow fluid with a bitter taste

gallbladder

a small sac suspended beneath the liver that concentrates and stores bile; located in the right upper quadrant

proctoscope

a three-inch-long instrument used to examine the lower rectum and anal canal

villous adenoma

a type of polyp that is invasive and malignant

gastrointestinal (GI) system

also called the digestive tract, alimentary canal, or gut, the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste

sigmoid

an S-shaped section of the large intestine between the descending colon and the rectum

fistula

an abnormal tubelike passage from a normal cavity or an abscess to a free surface

nausea

an inclination/urge to vomit

Crohn's disease

an inflammation of the GI tract with debilitating symptoms that are most commonly found in the terminal ileum (the end of the small intestine), located in the right lower quadrant

ulcer

an open lesion on the skin or mucous membrane of the body characterized by loss of tissue and the formation of a secretion

pancreas

an organ that secretes insulin and pancreatic digestive juice to aid with digestion (contains three powerful enzymes); located behind the stomach and connects to the duodenum

fissure

an ulcer, split, crack, or tear in the lining of the tissue

hepatic flexure

bend in the colon at the liver

stool

bowel movement, feces

endocrine glands

gland that secretes directly into the bloodstream

colostomy

incision of the colon for the purpose of making a more or less permanent opening; artificial opening of the colon, allowing fecal material to be excreted from the body through the abdominal wall

appendicitis

inflammation of the appendix (right lower quadrant) which can only effectively be treated with surgical removal of the organ; it is important to refrain from the administration of abdominal heat, enemas, and laxatives

colitis

inflammation of the colon that causes tenderness and discomfort

diverticulitis

inflammation of the diverticula

hepatitis

inflammation of the liver; type A transmitted through fecal-oral route, and types B and C transmitted through blood and bodily fluid

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas; enzymes normally produced and excreted into the pancreatic duct remain and digest pancreatic tissue

flatus

intestinal gas

lacteal

intestinal lymphatic capillary

pruritis ani

itching of the area surrounding the anus, often associated with irritation and burning

transverse

lying across; the segment of large intestine that lies across the abdomen; a line drawn horizontally across the body or a structure

polyp

mass of tissue that results from an overgrowth of upper epithelial cells of the mucosal membrane of the GI tract; a tumor with a pedicle, especially on mucous membranes, such as in the nose, rectum, or intestines

stenosis

narrowing or constriction of a passage or opening

paralytic ileus

paralysis of the intestinal wall with symptoms of acute obstruction; usually occurs in the small intestine

cystic

pertaining to a cyst; of disease, refers to a condition with multiple cysts

digestive

pertaining to digestion

peptic

pertaining to digestion; also referred to as gastric (stomach) ulcer; 80% to 95% of cases caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

fecal

pertaining to feces

anal

pertaining to the anus or outer rectal opening

hepatic

pertaining to the liver

pyloric

pertaining to the opening between the stomach and the duodenum

gastric

pertaining to the stomach

gastrointestinal (GI)

pertaining to the stomach and intestines

hiatus (n) , hiatal (adj)

pertains to a herniation of the stomach through an opening or hiatus

hernia

protrusion of an internal organ through a natural opening in the body wall

ascending

referring to that portion of the colon that ascends from the lower right quadrant to the upper right quadrant of the abdomen

bowel

refers to intestines

descending

refers to the portion of the large intestine from the splenic flexure to the sigmoid

vitamins

regulating chemicals needed for growth and control of body activities

palate

roof of the mouth

cholelithiasis

stones in the gallbladder or bile ducts (choledocholithiasis); if bile duct becomes blocked, severe/sudden jaundice will occur

hemorrhoidectomy

surgical excision of hemorrhoidal tissue

ileostomy

surgical opening of the ileum that allows the chyme of the small intestine to empty through the abdominal wall

cholecystectomy

surgical removal of the gallbladder

intestine

the alimentary canal extending from the pylorus of the stomach to the anus

vermiform appendix

the appendix; a small tube attached to the cecum

cecum

the beginning of the ascending portion f the large intestine that forms a blind pouch at the junction with the small intestine

jaundice (icteric)

the bile is absorbed into the bloodstream, producing the yellow discoloration of the sclera, mucosa, and skin

bolus

the combination of mashed food substances and saliva.

alimentary canal

the connecting chain of organs of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum, and accessory organs

appendectomy

the excision of the appendix

colon

the large intestine; absorption is completed here, and waste products/feces and non-digestible material is formed eliminated; divided into sections: cecum (connects to ileum, where the appendix is located), ascending colon, transvers colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon

liver

the largest gland in the body, located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen beneath the diaphragm, that processes blood from all the abdominal organs; secretes over a pint of bile a day to break down fats; processes proteins from amino acids that burn fats as fuel or store fats, manufactures fibrinogen and prothrombin, renders many toxins harmless, receives arterial blood from the hepatic artery for its own support/preservation

ileum

the last section of the small intestine, about half an inch in diameter; most impacted by Crohn's disease; meets the large intestine (the cecum) at the ileocecal valve

rectum

the lower part/end of the large intestine between the sigmoid and the anal canal; serves as a collecting/storage area for the remains of digestion

jejunum

the middle segment of the small intestine, which measures approximately eight feet in length

cardiac sphincter

the muscle that encircles the esophagus where it enters the stomach

tongue

the muscular organ of the mouth that assists in the production of speech, contains the taste buds, and provides the ability to swallow; can alter its shape to reach all areas of the mouth

mouth

the oral cavity; responsible for initiating digestion, both mechanical (chewing) and chemical (saliva); can also refer to the opening to organs

diverticulosis

the presence of bulging pouches in the wall of the GI tract where the lining has pushed into the surrounding muscle; abnormal outpouchings, or diverticula, in the intestinal wall of the colon

digestion

the process by which food is broken down, mechanically and chemically, in the gastrointestinal tract and converted into absorbable forms; from start to finish, includes ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination

excretion

the process of expelling material from the body

herniorrhaphy

the surgical repair of a hernia

ileocecal

the valve between the end of the small intestine and the cecum

proteins

these are obtained primarily from plant and animal sources but are not stored by the body; burned for energy if insufficient carbohydrates and fats available; digested second

carbohydrates

these supply about two-thirds of the energy calories needed each day; the first things to be digested and broken down into sugars

salivary glands

three pairs of glands that secrete saliva (parotid, sublingual, and submandibular) that begins the digestion of food, primarily the breakdown of starch or complex carbohydrates

villi

tiny projections from a surface; the villi of the small intestine that absorb nutrients during the process of digestion

laparoscope

tiny telescope instrument inserted into the abdomen during gallbladder surgery

defecate

to pass stool or move bowels

sigmoidoscopy

used to perform an examination to view the lower portion of the sigmoid (the lower colon) and rectum through a 10- to 12-inch sigmoidoscope

chyme

when the partially digested food in the stomach is changed into a semiliquid state; the mixture of partially digested food and digestive secretions found in the stomach and small intestines during digestion of a meal

duodenum

The first of three sections of the colon; a C-shaped segment about nine inches long; especially prone to ulcers and receives products from four organs (stomach, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas

mastication

chewing

cirrhosis

chronic disease of the liver causes destruction of the liver cells; an interstitial inflammation with hardening of the tissues of an organ; symptoms include severe jaundice, and mortality is high (death within five years of diagnosis)

constipation

condition of sluggish bowel action; usually refers to an excessively firm, hard stool that is difficult to expel or lack of a bowel movement over a time

hemorrhoids

dilated vein in the mucosa of the folds of the anal canal or lower portion of the rectum

vomit

emesis; to expel the contents of the stomach through the mouth

varices

enlarged, twisted veins

gastroscopy

examination of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum through a flexible gastroscope

anus

external opening of the anal canal, or rectum

rugae

folds found in the inner lining of the stomach that aid in digestion and moving food into the duodenum

diarrhea

frequent bowel movements; condition of repeated passage of unformed wastes