Digestive System Overview and Terminology

Digestive System Overview

• The digestive system breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste
• Key organs include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder

Terminology Related to the Digestive System

• Duodenum: The first part of the small intestine
• Ileum: The last part of the small intestine
• Jejunum: The middle section of the small intestine
• Enzyme: Organic catalyst speeding up chemical reactions
• Peritoneum: Large serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity, supporting abdominal organs
• Emesis: Vomiting

Combining Forms in Digestive Terminology

• Gastr/o: Refers to the stomach
  • Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach
• Lingu/o: Refers to the tongue
• Or/o: Refers to the mouth
• Enter/o: Refers to intestines (primarily small intestine)
  • Enteropathy: Disease of the intestine
• Hepat/o: Refers to the liver
  • Hepatomegaly: Enlargement of the liver
  • Hepatotoxicity: Toxicity or poisoning of the liver
• Chol/e, Cholecyst/o: Refers to bile or gallbladder
  • Cholecystectomy: Surgical removal of the gallbladder
• Gingiv/o: Refers to gum
• Pancreat/o: Refers to the pancreas

Suffixes in Digestive Terminology

• -pepsia: Refers to digestion
  • Dyspepsia: Indigestion or difficulty in digestion
  • Eupepsia: Normal digestion
• -ectomy: Refers to surgical removal
  • Appendectomy: Surgical removal of the appendix
  • Colectomy: Surgical removal of part of the colon
• -megaly: Refers to enlargement
  • Splenomegaly: Enlargement of the spleen
  • Hepatomegaly: Enlargement of the liver

Prefixes in Digestive Terminology

• Hyper-: Excessive or over
  • Hyperemesis: Excessive vomiting
  • Hyperacidity: Excess stomach acid
• Hypo-: Below normal or deficient
  • Hypogastric: Below the stomach
  • Hypoacidity: Below normal stomach acid levels
• Dys-: Difficult or painful
  • Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing
  • Dyspepsia: Difficult or painful digestion

Common Digestive Disorders

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Chronic acid reflux irritating the esophagus
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Affects the large intestine, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea
• Ulcerative Colitis: Chronic inflammation of the colon with ulcer formation
• Crohn's Disease: Inflammatory bowel disease affecting any part of the digestive tract
• Ascites: Fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
• Cholelithiasis: Presence of stones in the gallbladder or common bile duct
• Hemorrhoids: Varicose veins in the rectum, causing pain and bleeding
• Hematemesis: Vomiting blood

Diagnostic Procedures in the Digestive System

• Endoscopy: Procedure using a camera to view the inside of the digestive tract
• Colonoscopy: Examination of the colon using a scope
• Barium Swallow: X-ray of the upper digestive tract after consuming a barium solution

Medical Terminology Related to the Liver

• Hepatopathy: Disease of the liver
• Cirrhosis: Chronic liver damage leading to liver failure
• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin due to elevated bilirubin levels
• Hepatotoxicity: Toxicity or poisoning of the liver

Abbreviations Related to the Digestive System

(A table of abbreviations and their meanings is provided.)

Case Study

• Patient Profile: Ahmad, 51-year-old businessman
• Medical History: 10-year history of worsening heartburn
• Chief Complaint: Frequent epigastric pain and heartburn after meals and at night. Regurgitation but no aspiration.
• History of Present Illness: Heartburn has worsened over the past year, now daily, including at night. Intermittent OTC antacids and PPIs with limited relief.
• Diagnosis: GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) and possible erosive esophagitis
• Clinical Course: Prescribed PPI, follow-up visit in 7 weeks before scheduled EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy)