Digestive System

What is the Digestive System? Also called the GI Tract or Alimentary Canal The Digestive System is responsible for breaking down foodstuff and converting into energy or using the nutrients in the foodstuff for necessary body functions.

Anatomy of the Digestive System Begins at the MOUTH. The mouth is responsible for MECHANICAL DIGESTION. The teeth break down food by chewing (MASTICATION). The mouth is also the place where CHEMICAL DIGESTION begins. The SALIVARY GLANDS (sublingual, parotid, and submandibular glands) are responsible for producing an environment for food breakdown.

Next, the food enters the ESOPHAGUS (food tube) which connects the mouth to the STOMACH. After food enters the stomach, acids are released to continue with chemical digestion. From the stomach, food enters the SMALL INTESTINE by traveling through the DUODENUM.

The small intestine is responsible for absorption of nutrients. From the small intestine, food enters the LARGE INTESTINE (colon) where water absorption takes place. After the stool is solidified, it travels to the RECTUM and ANUS for removal from the body.

Accessory Digestive Organs Liver - detoxifies the blood. - stores sugar as GLYCOGEN. Pancreas - secretes INSULIN, a hormone that allows glucose to enter the bodies cells. - also manufactures and secretes GLUCAGON, a hormone that raises blood sugar and SOMATOSTATIN, a hormone which helps regulate sleep.

Combining Forms for the Digestive System ORAL CAVITY (Mouth) or / o AND stomat / o refer to the mouth. IE: stomat / itis -> inflammation of the mouth or / al -> pertaining to the mouth

gloss / o AND lingu / o both mean TONGUE. gloss / ectomy -> surgical removal of the tongue lingu / al -> pertaining to the tongue

dent / o AND odont / o mean TEETH. dent / ist -> specialist of the teeth Orth / odont / ist -> specialist that straigtens teeth.

gingiv / o means GUM(s) gingiv / itis -> inflammation of the gums

PHARYNX (throat) and ESOPHAGUS esophag / o -> esophagus esophag / o / scope -> an instrument to view the esophagus

gastr / o means stomach gastr / o / scopy -> a visual examination of the stomach

pharyng / o means pharynx (throat) pharyng / itis -> inflammation of the throat

pylor / o means pylorus (a part of the stomach) pylor / o / tomy -> an incision into the pylorus

SMALL INTESTINE and LARGE INTESTINE (colon) an / o -> anus an / al -> pertaining to the anus

append / o appendic / o -> appendix append / ectomy -> excision of the appendix appendic / itis -> inflammation of the appendix

col / o colon / o -> colon col / o / centesis -> puncture of the colon colon / o / scope -> instrument to view or examine the colon

duoden / o means duodenum duoden / o / stomy -> to form an opening (mouth) in the duodenum

enter / o means intestine enter / o / pathy -> disease of the intestine enter / it is -> inflammation of the intestine

ile / o means ileum (part of the small intestine) ile / o / stomy -> to form an opening (mouth) in the ileum

jejun / o means jejunum (part of the small intestine) jejun / o / rrhaphy -> to suture a rupture of the jejunum

proct / o means anus or rectum proct / o / logist -> specialist or one who studies the rectum

rect / o means rectum NOTE: there are multiple word roots for many organs. rect / o / cele -> hernia of the rectum

sigmoid / o means sigmoid colon (part of the large intestine that is “S” shaped) sigmoid / o / scopy -> a visual examination of the sigmoid colon

Common Suffixes -dynia -algia Refer to pain. stomat / o / dynia -> pain in the mouth NOTE: a combining vowel is not needed when using – algia. stomat / algia -> pain in the mouth

The combining form sial / o Refers to the salivary glands or saliva. What does sial / o / rrhea mean? flow of saliva

The prefix Dia- means “through”. What is the literal translation of Dia / rrhea? through flow -> frequent passage of watery bowel movements?

Pertaining to….. The following suffixes all mean the same thing. -al vertebr / al -ar vascul / ar -ary maxill / ary -ic thromb / ic

FYI When defining a medical word, first define the SUFFIX. Next, look at the beginning of the word (PREFIX or ROOT). Finally, look at the middle of the word (ROOT). sub / lingu / al 1.“-al” means “pertaining to” 2.“sub-” means “beneath” 3.“/ lingu /” means “tongue” Therefore, sublingual means to something pertaining to the beneath the tongue. A sublingual dose of nitroglycerin is placed beneath the tongue.

-osis This suffix refers to an abnormal condition. stomat / osis means an abnormality of the mouth.

Myc / Word root meaning FUNGUS. myc / osis is an abnormal condition of a fungus.

Pharynx, Esophagus, and Stomach gastr / ic gastr / itis gastr / algia gastr / dynia gastr / rrhea All refer to the stomach.

What Do The Following Mean? Gastr / ectomy Esophag / o / plasty Gastr / tome Removal of the stomach Surgical repair of the esophagus Instrument to cut the stomach

hemat / o -> blood emesis -> vomit hemat / emesis -> to vomit blood NOTE: a combining vowel is NOT needed.

Other Definitions epi - above or upon epigastric pain is pain above the stomach. dys - bad, painful, or difficult -pepsia digestion dyspepsia literally means painful digestion or “heartburn”

-phagia means to swallow or eat. dys / phagia is difficultly swallowing aer - means air aer / o / phagia means swallowing air. infants frequently have this as they suck milk from a bottle.

Small Intestine and Colon The small intestine is broken into three parts: duodenum duoden / o jejunum jejun / o ileum ile / o

duoden / o / stomy First part of small intestine Combining vowel To form a new opening

col / o / stomy -> form a new hole in the colon col / o / rrhaphy -> suture the colon

The SIGMOID COLON becomes the RECTUM. sigmoid / itis -> inflammation of the sigmoid colon rect / o / stenosis -> a narrowing of the rectum

Accessory Organs Combining Form Meaning Cholangi / o bile vessel Cholecyst / o gall bladder Choledoch / o bile duct Hepat / o liver Pancreat / o pancreas Sial / o saliva Lith / o stone, calculus