Digestive System

ALS380 Medical Terminology

Chapter 6
 Chapter Objectives
• Recognize the structures of the digestive system and their
associated combining forms
• Identify diseases, conditions, procedures and pharmacology related
to the digestive system
• Identify the distinct regions of the small and large intestines
• Identify the common abbreviations used with the digestive system
• Apply your word-building skills by constructing various medical
terms related to the digestive system
• Recognize, define and spell terms correctly
• Use your knowledge of the digestive system within clinical
scenarios
Digestive System Overview
Introduction to digestive system function and common word
elements
Digestive System Overview
• Gastrointestinal (GI) system
• Alimentary canal
• Upper GI tract
• mouth – duodenum
• Lower GI tract
• intestines – anus
• Exact demarcation between upper and lower GI is the
suspensory muscle of the duodenum
Digestive System Common Suffixes I
Suffix Definition Medical Term
-emesis vomiting hyper/emesis

-orexia* appetite an/orexia

-pepsia digestion dys/pepsia

-prandial* meal pre/prandial

-iasis ab. condition (specific chol/e/lith/iasis

cause)
Digestive System Common Suffixes II
Suffix Definition Medical Term
-lith stone, calculus chol/e/lith
-phagia eating, swallowing aer/o/phagia
-ectomy excision, removal cholecyst/ectomy
-tome instrument to cut gastr/o/tome
-tomy incision lith/o/tomy
-tripsy crushing lith/o/tripsy
Digestive System Common CFs
CF Definition Medical Term
cirrh/o, jaund/o yellow cirrh/osis

polyp/o small growth, polyp/ectomy

polyp
peritone/o peritoneum peritone/al

tox/o, toxic/o poison toxic/o/logy

corpor/o body corpor/eal

Section 02

Digestive Structure
Overview
Introduction to GI tract structures, word elements and
associated terminology
Oral Cavity
• Mouth (or/o, stomat/o)
• Teeth (dent/o, odont/o)
• Gums (gingiv/o)
• Tongue (gloss/o, lingu/o)
• Assist in the mechanical breakdown of food
Salivary Glands (sial/o)

• Salivary glands
• secrete saliva to begin chemical
breakdown of food
• food is formed into a sticky mass
called a bolus
• Saliva (ptyal/o, sial/o)
Pharynx (pharyng/o)

• Passageway to the esophagus

• 3 divsions
• Nasopharynx
• Oropharynx
• Laryngopharynx
 Esophagus (esophag/o)

• Muscular tube extending from the pharynx

into the stomach
• Peri/stalsis
• rhythmic, muscular contraction and relaxation
moves bolus forward
Stomach (gastr/o)
• Lower esophageal sphincter opens
• Fundus
• Rugae
• secretes acids and enzymes
• bolus to chyme
• Pylorus (pylor/o)
• funnel-shaped terminal portion of the stomach where most
digestion occurs
• pyloric sphincter
Small Intestine (enter/o)
• Digestive enzymes from the
pancreas and liver
• Nutrient absorption via villi
1. duodenum (duoden/o)
2. jejunum (jejun/o)
3. ileum (ile/o)
Large Intestine
• Cecum
• appendix (append/o, appendic/o)
• Colon (col/o, colon/o)
• ascending
• transverse
• descending
• sigmoid (sigmoid/o)
• Rectum (rect/o, proct/o)
• terminates at the anus (proct/o)
Section 03

Digestive System
Accessory Organs
Introduction to accessory organ structures, word
elements and associated terminology
Liver (hepat/o)

• Produces bile
• Glycogen synthesis
• Destroys old RBCs; releases bilirubin
• Removes toxins from the blood
• Synthesize blood proteins (albumin, clotting factors)
• R/L hepatic duct deliver bile to the gallbladder
Bile (chol/e)

• Aids in digestion
• Breaks down fats and prepares them for digestion and
absorption into the small intestine
• Without bile, fat digestion is not possible
Bilirubin
• Bilirubin is a orange-yellow substance
• Produced when the liver breaks down old
red blood cells
• Found in bile/excreted in stool
• Elevated levels in the blood/urine indicate
problems with liver, gallstones, bile duct
 Gallbladder (cholecyst/o)
• Small pouch under the liver
• Stores bile made from the liver
• Delivers bile to small intestine
via common bile duct leading to
the duodenum
• Bile vessel (cholangi/o)
• Bile duct (choledoch/o)
 Pancreas (pancreat/o)

• Exocrine and endocrine function

• Exocrine cells produce enzymes
to help with the digestion of food
in the duodenum
 Digestive System Abbreviations I
Abbreviation Definition
BM bowel movement
GI gastrointestinal
PO by mouth
NPO nothing by mouth
IV intravenous
Dx diagnosis
 Digestive System Abbreviations II
Abbreviation Definition
EGD esophagogastroduodenoscopy
GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease
NG nasogastric
OG orogastric
IBD inflammatory bowel disease
IBS irritable bowel syndrome
Section 04

Diseases and Conditions I

Digestive system disorders
Colostomy
• Surgical creation of an opening into the colon
• Stoma: pathway from the lg. intestine to the outside of
the abdomen
• Due conditions such as cancer, UC, necrosis
• Temporary or permanent
Hepatitis

• Inflammatory condition due to infections, alcohol,

drugs, toxins, transfusion, autoimmune disorders
• Viral Hepatitis
• Hepatitis A, E via contaminated food/water
(fecal/oral)
• Hepatitis B, C, D via body fluid contact
• Vaccine only for type A & B
Gallstones (chol/e/liths)

• Form when there is an imbalance in the substances that

make up bile
• Also caused by incomplete emptying of the gallbladder
• Cholelithiasis
• Cholecystectomy
Pancreatitis

• Pancreatic enzymes are activated in the

pancreas vs. the duodenum
• Enzymes attack the tissue, damaging the
gland
• Acute vs. chronic
• Repeated bouts of pancreatitis can lead to
scarring, damage and chronic pancreatitis
Appendicitis

• Inflammation of the appendix due to

blockage
• Risk of rupture, abscess and
peritonitis (infection of the
peritoneum)
• Appendectomy
Ascites

• Abnormal accumulation of serous fluid into the

peritoneal cavity
• Commonly due to portal HTN, cirrhosis, hepatitis,
fatty liver disease
• Paracentesis
• surgical puncture near (the abdomen)
Hernia

• Protrusion of an organ through the wall

which normally contains it
• Caused by increased pressure such as
heavy lifting, coughing, diarrhea,
constipation
• Risk of strangulation
• herniorrhaphy, hernioplasty
Cirrhosis

• Chronic liver disease

• Destruction of liver cells, inflammation and fibrous
thickening of the tissue
• Leads to jaundice and liver failure
• Scar tissue blocks the flow of blood through the liver,
slowing nutrient, hormone and drug processing
Celiac Disease

• (WR) celi = abdomen

• Damage to the lining of the small intestine
• Reaction to gluten
• Malabsorption of nutrients, abdominal
bloating, diarrhea
• Autoimmune
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

• GERD
• Malfunction of the lower
esophageal sphincter (LES)
• Backflow of gastric contents
into the esophagus
• Esophageal ulcers,
esophagitis
Diverticular Disease

• Abnormal bulging pockets in the GI tract are called

diverticula
• Diverticula in the colon or intestine pushes the mucosal
lining through the surrounding muscle
• Diverticulitis
• Inflammation and infection of 1 or more diverticula
• Abscess may form in the tissue surrounding the colon
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Chronic inflammation of the

digestive tract
• Crohn’s disease
• Chronic IBD that affects any part
of the GI tract
• Ulcerative colitis
• Chronic IBD of the colon
Fistula

• Abnormal connection between two parts

inside of the body
• Commonly caused by infection, injury,
congenital, IBD
Polyps

• Small growths, resembling a

mushroom
• Protrudes from a mucous
membrane
• Detected during colonoscopy
• polypectomy Endoscopy Polypectomy of
Polyp of Descending Colon
Hemorrhoids

• Enlarged, twisted, varicose veins in the mucous

membrane inside or outside the rectum
• Rubber Band ligation
Esophageal Varices

• Swollen, twisted veins at the lower end of the

esophagus
• Portal HTN pushes blood into surrounding
vessels
• Cirrhosis, fatty and alcoholic liver disease,
hepatitis, thrombosis
Additional Conditions
• Hematochezia (-chezia = condition of stool)
• Stools containing blood
• Peritonitis
• Bacterial or fungal infection of the peritoneum due to
rupture or medical complication
• Melena
• Black tarry stools indicating digested blood from bleeding
in upper GI tract
Section 05

Diagnostic Procedures
Digestive system tests and procedures
Barium Procedures

• Radiographic exam post administration of a radiopaque

contrast medium (barium)
• Barium enema (BE)
• exam of rectum & colon (lower GI series)
• Barium swallow
• exam of esophagus, stomach & small intestine (upper GI
series)
Stool Guaiac

• Lab test performed on feces to detect the presence of

hidden blood in the stool
• Testing solution is put on the card
• Guaiac causes the stool sample to change color if blood
is present
• Hemoccult test
• occult = hidden
Imaging Studies

• Computed tomography (CT)

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Ultrasonography (US)
• Endoscopy
• Upper GI: esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, duodenoscopy
• Lower GI: colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, proctoscopy
Section 06

Medical/Surgical Procedures
Therapeutic procedures
Lithotripsy

• Elimination of stones in the gallbladder or

urinary system
• Crushed invasively
• Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy
(ESWL)
• Noninvasive using ultrasonic shockwaves
Nasogastric Intubation (NG)

• Insertion of an NG tube through the nose into

the stomach
• Also done through the mouth
• orogastric (OG)
• Relieves gastric distention; removes gas,
gastric secretions
• Instills medications, food, fluids
 long term feeding tube
through skin

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

• PEG
• Gastrostomy tube passed into a
patient's stomach through the
abdominal wall
• Provide a means of feeding when oral
intake is not adequate (i.e. dysphagia
or sedation)
Section 05

Pharmacology
Digestive system medications
Medications I
• Antacid
• Neutralizes stomach acid
• Tums, Rolaids
• Antidiarrheal
• Controls loose stools & relieve diarrhea by absorbing excess
water in the bowel by slowing down intestinal
movement/peristalsis
• loperamide, Imodium
Medications II
• Antiemetic
• Controls nausea/vomiting by blocking nerve impulses in the
vomiting center in the brain
• Dramamine, Bonine
• Laxative
• Relieves constipation
• Increase peristaltic activity and electrolyte secretion into the
bowel to induce defecation
• MiraLax, Correctol
Section 07

Clinical Rounds
Using medical terms in clinical application
 Clinical Rounds I

Baby Smith is a newborn at 38 weeks. He is born with a

diaphragmatic hernia that will require surgery. In the
meantime, what will the physician order to provide this
neonate with nutrition?

TPN - total parenteral nutrition

-par/enter/al refers to delivery of substances any way other than through the digestive tract
-TPN is given intravenously and provides liquid nutrients, that include carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes
 Clinical Rounds II
Mr. Jones is at the clinic with c/o no bowel
movements x 1 week. He also states he has
intermittent abdominal cramping. The PA observes
abdominal distention and tenderness. The PA
observes in the chart that the patient recently had
surgery and is taking oxycodone. The patient is
sent to CT and it reveals a blockage in the small
intestine known as: an ileus

opioid induced bowel dysfunction

 Clinical Rounds III
The nurse explains to the weight-loss group that
surgical procedures are available to treat morbid
obesity. The surgical specialty that treats morbid
obesity is called _____________ ___________
bariatric surgery

The doctor explains one option to treat morbid

obesity. The surgeon staples the upper stomach near
the esophagus to reduce it to a small pouch
followed by the insertion of a band to restrict food
consumption. This is known as
_________________________________________
,lap-band surgery
 Building Med Terms

Discharge, flow of saliva: ______/o/_______ sial rrhea

Pertaining to below the tongue:

sub lingu al
_______/__________/_________
Bad, painful, difficult digestion:
_____________/___________
dys pepsia

Vomiting blood: ________/_______ hemat emesis

 Building Med Terms
New opening of the ileum:
________/o/___________
ile stomy

One who specializes in the stomach & intestine:

_________/o/_______/o/_________
gaster enter
logist

Inflammation of the bile duct:

____________/_________
choledoc itis