Gastrointestinal System Overview and Functions

Gastrointestinal System Overview

• The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is divided into three main parts: upper GI, lower GI, and accessory organs.
• The upper GI tract begins at the mouth, includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.
• The lower GI tract begins at the large intestine (colon), continues through the rectum, and ends at the anus.
• Accessory organs include the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Digestive System Functions

• The digestive system functions to digest food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste.
• Digestion breaks down food into smaller molecules.
• Absorption takes up nutrients from the digested food.
• Elimination removes unusable materials.

Roots Related to Mouth and Upper Digestive Tract

• Stomat/o: Mouth
• Or/o: Mouth
• Dent/i/o, Odont/o: Tooth
• Gingiv/o: Gums
• Lingu/o, Gloss/o: Tongue
• Sial/o: Salivary glands
• Pylor/o: Pylorus
• Enter/o: Intestine
• Duoden/o: Duodenum
• Ile/o: Ileum
• Examples: Stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth), Odontalgia (toothache), Gingivectomy (gum surgery).

Liver and Pancreas

• The liver is a major organ in the digestive system.
• The gallbladder stores bile.
• The pancreas produces digestive enzymes.

Roots and Combining Forms (Digestive System)

• Cec/o: Cecum
• Col/o, Colon/o: Colon
• Rect/o: Rectum
• Pancreat/o: Pancreas
• Hepat/o: Liver
• Bil/i, Chol/e: Bile
• Cholecyst/o: Gallbladder
• Cholangi/o: Bile duct
• Choledoch/o: Common bile duct
• Examples: Cecorrhaphy (suture of the cecum), Colonoscopy (visual examination of the colon), Cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder), Cholangitis (inflammation of the bile duct)

Digestive System Disorders and Symptoms

• Achlorhydria: Lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
• Anorexia: Loss of appetite.
• Aphagia: Inability or refusal to eat.
• Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing.
• Dyspepsia: Indigestion.
• Xerostomia: Dry mouth.
• Colic: Abdominal pain.
• Cachexia: Loss of body weight and muscle mass, often due to chronic illness.
• Cholelithiasis: Gallstones in the gallbladder.
• Choledocholithiasis: Gallstones in the common bile duct.
• Other disorders and diseases were covered (dysentery, hernia, cirrhosis, jaundice)

Medical Terminology Related to Disease

• Jaundice: Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes.
• Mouth Ulcer: Sore or lesion in the mouth.
• Xerostomia: Dry mouth, lack of saliva
• Numerous other diseases were covered.

Diagnostic Procedures

• Esophago/gastro/duodenoscopy (EGD): Uses a flexible camera to visualize the upper GI tract (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum) – this information is helpful for diagnosis and treatment.

Other Important Terms

• GI Tract: Gastrointestinal Tract

Explore the key components and functions of the gastrointestinal system. This quiz covers the structure of the GI tract, including the upper and lower regions, as well as the roles of accessory organs. Test your knowledge on the various digestive processes and related terminology.