Digestive System Quiz

Digestive System Overview

• This chapter covers normal and clinical aspects of the digestive system
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Major Topics:
  • Normal structure and general functions of the digestive system
  • Roots related to the digestive system
  • Clinical symptoms and disorders of the digestive system
  • Common abbreviations and medical terminologies

Digestive System Functions

• The digestive system processes food and liquids for absorption into the bloodstream
• It consists of the digestive tract (series of structures and organs)
• The digestive tract processes food and liquids
• Other organs contribute digestive juices to the process

Organs of the Digestive Tract (Diagrammed)

• Oral Cavity (Mouth): Chewing and mixing food with saliva (containing amylase)
• Pharynx: Swallows food by reflex action
• Esophagus: Moves food to the stomach by peristalsis
• Stomach: Stores food, mixes it with digestive juices (HCl and pepsin)
• Small Intestine: Secretes enzymes and receives secretions, processes food for absorption
• Pancreas: Secretes digestive enzymes and bicarbonate
• Liver: Secretes bile salts to break down fats
• Gallbladder: Stores bile and releases it into the digestive tract
• Large Intestine: Processes undigested waste

Accessory Organs (Diagrammed and Described)

• Salivary Glands: Produce saliva containing amylase
• Liver: Produces bile, processes nutrients
• Gallbladder: Stores bile
• Pancreas: Secretes digestive enzymes

Normal Structure and Function

• Anus: The distal opening of the digestive tract

Roots and Meanings (Mouth, specific examples included)

• Bucc/o: Cheek
• Buccversion: Turning toward the cheek
• Dent/i, Dent/o: Tooth, teeth
• Edentulous: Without teeth

Roots Related to Digestive Tract (Examples Provided)

• Esophag/o: Esophagus
• Esophageal: Pertaining to the esophagus
• Gastr/o: Stomach
• Gastroparesis: Partial paralysis of the stomach
• Pylor/o: Pylorus
• Pyloroplasty: Plastic repair of the pylorus

Roots for Accessory Organs, including examples

• Hepat/o: Liver
• Hepatocyte: A liver cell
• Bili: Bile
• Biliary: Pertaining to the bile duct
• Chol/e, Chol/o: Bile, gall
• Cholestasis: Stoppage of the bile

Digestive Disorders

• Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix
• Ascites: Fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
• Barrett Syndrome: Chronic esophagitis condition
• Biliary Colic: Gallstones in the bile duct
• Bilirubin: Pigment from hemoglobin breakdown
• Caries: Tooth decay
• Celiac Disease: Gluten intolerance; immune response
• Cholecystitis: Gallbladder inflammation
• Cholelithiasis: Gallbladder stones

More Digestive Disorders

• Cirrhosis: Chronic liver disease
• Crohn Disease: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Diarrhea: Frequent passage of watery stools
• Diverticulitis: Inflammation of diverticula in the colon
• Diverticulosis: Presence of diverticula in the colon
• Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing
• Emesis: Vomiting
• Fistula: Abnormal passageway between organs
• Gastroenteritis: Stomach and intestinal inflammation
• GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Hemorrhoids: Varicose veins in the rectum
• Hepatitis: Liver inflammation
• Hepatomegaly: Enlarged liver
• Hiatal Hernia: Stomach protrusion through the diaphragm
• Icterus: Jaundice 

More Digestive Disorders

• Ileus: Intestinal obstruction
• Intussusception: Slipping of one intestinal segment into another
• Jaundice: Yellowing of skin and eyes from bilirubin buildup
• Leukoplakia: White patches on mucous membranes
• Nausea: Unpleasant sensation in the upper abdomen
• Occult Blood: Blood in stool undetectable by the naked eye
• Pancreatitis: Pancreas inflammation
• Peptic Ulcer: Lesion in stomach or duodenum
• Peritonitis: Peritoneum inflammation
• Polyps: Tumorous growths
• Portal Hypertension: Abnormal pressure in the hepatic portal system 

More Digestive Disorders

• Pyloric Stenosis: Narrowing of the opening between stomach and duodenum
• Regurgitation: Backward flow of undigested food
• Sigmoid Colon: S-shaped part of the large intestine
• Small Intestine: Portion between stomach and large intestine
• Stomach: Muscular sac below the diaphragm
• Thrush: Fungal infection (Candida) of the mouth/throat
• Ulcerative Colitis: Chronic ulcerations of rectum and colon
• Uvula: Fleshy mass hanging from the soft palate
• Volvulus: Twisting of a portion of the intestine

Supplementary Terms (Describing Digestive Processes)

• Bolus: Food mass ready for swallowing
• Cardia: Stomach's esophageal part
• Chyme: Partially digested food
• Defecation: Feces expulsion
• Deglutition: Swallowing
• Duodenal Bulb: First bend in duodenum
• Duodenal Papilla: Raised area where ducts enter duodenum
• Greater Omentum: Peritoneal fold covering abdominal organs
• Hepatic Flexure: Right bend in colon
• Ileocecal Valve: Valve between ileum and cecum
• Mesentery: Peritoneum supporting the intestines
• Papilla of Vater: Raised area where ducts enter duodenum
• Rugae: Stomach folds (seen when empty)

Digestive System Disorders

• Achalasia: Smooth muscle failure to relax (esophagus)
• Achlorhydria: Lack of hydrochloric acid in stomach
• Anorexia: Loss of appetite, often psychologically induced
• Aphagia: Inability to swallow
• Aphthous Ulcer: Mouth ulcer
• Bruxism: Teeth grinding
• Bulimia: Excessive appetite with induced vomiting, dieting
• Cachexia: Profound ill health & wasting
• Cheilosis: Cracking at the corners of the mouth

More Digestive Disorders

• Cholestasis: Cessation of bile flow
• Constipation: Infrequent or difficult defecation
• Dyspepsia: Poor/painful digestion
• Eructation: Belching
• Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP): Genetic condition involving polyps, predisposing to cancer
• Flatulence: Gas or air in the GI tract

More Digestive Disorders

• Flatus: Gas expulsion
• Hematemesis: Vomiting blood
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Stress related bowel issues
• Megacolon: Extremely dilated colon
• Melena: Dark sticky stool (blood in the intestines)
• Obstipation: Extreme constipation
• Pernicious Anemia: Anemia caused by intrinsic factor deficiency
• Pilonidal Cyst: Dermal cyst in the sacral region
• Polyposis: Formation of many polyps
• Portal hypertension: Increased pressure in the hepatic portal system (often from cirrhosis)

Additional Digestive Disorders

• Stomach, Peptic ulcer, - Proctoplexy: Surgical fixation of the rectum etc.
• Peritonitis - Thrush: (Fungal infection of the mouth/throat) - **Vincent disease:**Severe gingivitis
• Dysphagia - Intestinal obstruction etc (many more)

Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures

• Anastomosis: Connection between two vessels
• Barium study: Radiographic visualization of the digestive tract
• Cholecystectomy: Surgical gallbladder removal
• Dukes classification: Staging system for colorectal cancer
• ERCP: Viewing and treating pancreatic and bile ducts endovascularly
• Gavage/Lavage: Feeding with a tube; washing out a cavity
• Manometry: Pressure measurement
• Murphy sign: Inability to take deep breath with pressure below rib arch (liver area)
• Nasogastric Tube (NG tube): Tube passed through nose into the stomach
• Parenteral hyperalimentation: Complete intravenous nutrition
• PEG/ Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: Insertion of tube to stomach via endoscopic procedure
• Stoma: opening in upper body for removal procedures
• Vagotomy: Nerve interruption (often for ulcers), reduce stomach secretions

Additional Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures

• Endoscopy, - Anoscopy: Endoscopic approach to the anus etc.
• Sigmoidoscopy: Colonoscopy etc.
• Proctosigmoidoscopy: Examination of the rectum etc

Medical Agents/Drugs-

• Antacids: Counteract stomach acid
• Antidiarrheals: Reduce intestinal motility or soothe lining
• Antiemetics: Prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting
• Anti-flatulents: Prevent or relieve flatulence
• Emetics: Induce vomiting
• Histamine H2 antagonists: Decrease stomach acid secretion
• Laxatives: Promote elimination from large intestine
• Proton pump inhibitors: Decrease stomach acid secretion