Digestive System: Medical Terminology Lecture Notes

Key Objectives

• Understand and apply medical language rules to the digestive system.
• Identify key word components specific to the digestive system.
• Categorize terms related to diagnostics, therapy, procedures, and anatomy.
• Familiarize with terms related to digestive system diseases and disorders.

Digestive System Word Parts

• Focus on prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes.
• Prefix words: Hemi-(half),endo-(within,in), sub-(under, below), dys-( painful, abnormal,difficult)
• Combining form:abdomin/o (abdomen, abdominal)
  an/o (anus)
  antr/o (antrum)
  append/o (appendix)
  appendic/o (appendix)
  cec/o (cecum)
  celi/o (abdomen, abdominal cavity)
  cheil/o (lip)
  cholangi/o (bile duct)
  chol/e (gall, bile)
  choledoch/o (common bile duct)
  col/o (colon)
  colon/o (colon)
  diverticul/o (diverticulum)
  duoden/o (duodenum)
  enter/o (intestine)
  esophag/o (esophagus)
  gastr/o (stomach)
  gingiv/o (gum)
  gloss/o (tongue)
  hepat/o (liver)
  herni/o (hernia, protrusion of an organ through a membrane or cavity wall)
  ile/o (ileum)
  jejun/o (jejunum)
  lapar/o (abdomen, abdominal cavity)
  lingu/o (tongue)
  or/o (mouth)
  palat/o (palate)
  pancreat/o (pancreas)
  peritone/o (peritoneum)
  polyp/o (polyp, small growth)
  proct/o (rectum)
  pylor/o (pylorus, pyloric sphincter)
  rect/o (rectum)
  sial/o (saliva, salivary gland)
  sigmoid/o (sigmoid colon)
  steat/o (fat)
  stomat/o (mouth)
  uvul/o (uvula)
• Suffix : ac (pertaining to)
  -al (pertaining to)
  -cele (hernia, protrusion)
  -centesis (surgical puncture to aspirate fluid)
  -ectomy (excision)
  -gram (the record, radiographic image)
  -graph (instrument used to record)
  -graphy (process of recording)
  -ia (condition of, diseased state, abnormal state)
  -iasis (condition)
  -itis (inflammation)
  -logist (specialist or physician who studies and treats)
  -logy (study of)
  -malacia (softening)
  -oma (tumor)
  -osis (abnormal condition)
  -pathy (disease)
  -pepsia (digestion)
  -phagia (eating or swallowing)
  -plasty (surgical repair)
  -ptosis (prolapse, drooping)
  -rrhaphy (suturing, repairing)
  -rrhea (flow, discharge)
  -scope (instrument used for visualization)
  -scopy (process of viewing, visualization)
  -stomy (creation of an artificial opening)
  -tomy (incision, cut into)

Introduction to the Digestive System

• Primary Function: Breakdown food, release nutrients, absorb nutrients.
• Small Intestine: Major site for digestion and absorption.
• Digestive Organs: Each plays a crucial role in sustaining life.

Anatomy of the Digestive System

The Mouth

• Oral Cavity: Framed by cheeks, tongue, and palate; includes oral vestibule and oral cavity proper.
• Palate: Hard (bony structure) and soft (muscular), helps in swallowing and respiration.
• Uvula: Prevents food from entering the nasal cavity and contributes to snoring.

Tongue

• Vital for ingestion, digestion, taste, swallowing, and vocalization.
• Papillae: Taste buds located on top and sides.

Salivary Glands

• Secrete saliva for moistening food and initiating carbohydrate digestion.

Pharynx

• Connects mouth and nasal cavities with esophagus and larynx.
• Divided into nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

Esophagus

• Muscular tube, connects pharynx to stomach.
• Utilizes peristalsis to move food.

Stomach

• Four regions: cardia, fundus, body, pylorus.
• Functions: Mechanical and chemical digestion.

Small Intestine

• Main digestive and absorption organ.
• Subdivided into duodenum, jejunum, ileum.

Large Intestine

• Functions: Absorption of water, formation, and excretion of feces.
• Subdivided into cecum, colon, rectum, anus.

Accessory Organs of Digestion

Liver

• Functions: Produces bile, processes blood nutrients, detoxification.

Pancreas

• Exocrine function: Secretes digestive enzymes.

Gallbladder

• Stores and concentrates bile.

Physiology of the Digestive System

Main Functions

• Ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.

Digestive Processes

• Include ingestion, propulsion, digestion (mechanical and chemical), absorption, and defecation.

Age-Related Changes

• Taste, tooth, saliva production, and muscle tone can decline with age, affecting digestion.

Diseases and Disorders

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

• Caused by acid reflux, characterized by burning sensation.

Cholecystitis

• Inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to gallstones.

Cirrhosis

• Liver scarring, often due to alcohol or liver disease.

Esophageal Cancer

• Cancer of the esophagus, risk factors include tobacco and alcohol.

Hepatitis (A, B, C)

• Liver inflammation from viral infection or toxins.

Celiac Disease

• Immune reaction to gluten damaging the small intestine.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

• Crohn’s Disease: Affects any part of the digestive tract.
• Ulcerative Colitis: Inflammation of the colon.

Colon Cancer

• Often diagnosed in older adults, detected via colonoscopy.

Hernia

• Protrusion of an organ through a weak spot.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Affects the large intestine, causes pain, gas, and bloating.

Polyps

• Small tissue growths in the colon, can become cancerous.

Medical Procedures Related to Digestive System

Gastroenterology

• Medical specialty focusing on the digestive system.

Diagnostic Procedures

• Upper and Lower GI Series: Use of barium to examine GI structures.
• Fecal Occult Blood Test: Checks for hidden blood in feces.
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): Examines the upper GI tract.

Common Digestive System Abbreviations:

This summary covers the key points discussed in the lecture regarding the structure, function, and medical aspects of the digestive system. These notes are useful for studying and reviewing the digestive system’s key components and related medical terminology.