Gastrointestinal System Overview

Gastrointestinal System Organs

• The oral cavity ingests, chews, and swallows food.
• The pharynx transports food to the stomach.
• The esophagus transports food to the stomach.
• The stomach secretes acid and mixes food, initiating digestion.
• The small intestine digests and absorbs nutrients.
• The colon reabsorbs water and stores feces.
• Salivary glands produce saliva.
• Pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and buffers.
• Liver and gallbladder produce and store bile.

Digestive System Functions

• Mechanical and chemical digestion of food.
• Absorption of nutrient molecules.
• Elimination of solid wastes.

Digestive System Combining Forms

• an/o - anus
• append/o - appendix
• bucc/o - cheek
• cec/o - cecum
• chol/e - bile, gall
• col/o - colon
• dent/o - tooth
• duoden/o - duodenum
• enter/o - small intestine
• esophag/o - esophagus
• gastr/o - stomach
• gingiv/o - gums
• gloss/o - tongue
• hepat/o - liver
• ile/o - ileum

Digestive System Suffixes

• -emesis - vomit
• -lithiasis - stone
• -orexia - appetite
• -pepsia - digestion
• -phagia - eat, swallow
• -prandial - pertaining to a meal

Word Building Examples (an/o & bucc/o)

• anal - pertaining to the anus
• buccal - pertaining to the cheek
• labiobuccal - pertaining to lips and cheeks

Word Building Examples (append/o & appendic/o)

• appendectomy - surgical removal of the appendix
• appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix

Word Building Examples (col/o & colon/o)

• colectomy - removal of the colon
• colostomy - new opening into the colon
• colorectal - pertaining to the colon and rectum
• colonoscope - instrument to view the colon
• colonic - pertaining to the colon

Word Building Examples (duoden/o, enter/o, & esophag/o)

• duodenal - pertaining to the duodenum
• enteric - pertaining to the intestine
• enteritis - inflammation of the intestine
• esophageal - pertaining to the esophagus
• esophagectasis - dilation of the esophagus

Word Building Examples (gastr/o)

• gastralgia - stomach pain
• gastric - pertaining to the stomach
• gastroenteritis - inflammation of the stomach and intestines
• gastroenterologist - stomach specialist
• nasogastric - pertaining to the nose and stomach
• gastroscope - instrument to view the stomach
• gastritis - inflammation of the stomach
• gastrectomy - surgical removal of the stomach

Word Building Examples (hepat/o & ile/o)

• hepatitis - inflammation of the liver
• hepatoma - liver tumor
• hepatic - pertaining to the liver

Word Building Examples (jejun/o, lapar/o, & lingu/o)

• jejunal - pertaining to the jejunum
• laparotomy - incision into the abdomen
• laparoscope - instrument to view inside the abdomen
• sublingual - pertaining to under the tongue

Word Building Examples (pancreat/o & pharyng/o)

• pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas
• pancreatic - pertaining to the pancreas
• pharyngeal - pertaining to the pharynx
• pharyngoplegia - pharynx paralysis
• pharyngoplasty - surgical repair of the pharynx

Word Building Examples (-emesis, -orexia, & prandial)

• hematemesis - vomit blood
• hyperemesis - excessive vomiting
• anorexia - lack of appetite
• dysorexia - abnormal appetite
• postprandial - pertaining to after a meal

Word Building Examples (-pepsia & -phagia)

• bradypepsia - slow digestion
• dyspepsia - indigestion
• aphagia - inability or refusal to swallow
• dysphagia - difficulty or discomfort in swallowing
• polyphagia - too much eating

Eating Disorders

• Anorexia: Morbid refusal to eat, desiring dangerously thin appearance.
• Bulimia: Eating then purging or vomiting to achieve weight loss.
• Obesity: Excessive body weight resulting often from overeating.

Disorders of the Stomach

• Achlorhydria: Lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
• Dyspepsia: Difficulty with digesting food (indigestion).
• Gastritis: Any stomach inflammation.
• Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of both the stomach and small intestine.
• Flatulence: Accumulation of gas in the stomach or intestines.
• Hematemesis: Vomiting of blood from the stomach.
• Hiatal Hernia: Protrusion of the stomach through an opening in the diaphragm.

Liver Disorders

• Hepatomegaly: Enlarged liver.
• Hepatitis: Inflammatory condition of the liver, due to a variety of causes such as infections, drugs or alcohol.

Disorders of the Intestines

• Duodenal ulcers: A form of peptic ulcer thought to be bacterial in origin.
• Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix, which lies on the side of the duodenum, becoming inflamed if gastric substances leak into it from the duodenum.
• Ileus: An intestinal blockage.
• Colitis: Inflammation of the colon (large intestine).
• Ulcerative colitis: Ulcers and inflammation in the colon (large intestine).

Test your knowledge of the gastrointestinal system, including its organs, functions, and combining forms. This quiz covers key components like the stomach, intestines, and digestive processes. Perfect for students studying human anatomy and physiology.