Lecture Notes
Classroom Activity to
Accompany Medical
Terminology Systems, Sixth
Edition
Barbara A. Gylys ∙ Mary Ellen Wedding
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Digestive System
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Structure
• Oral cavity
• Teeth
• Salivary glands
• Pharynx
• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Small intestine
• Large intestine
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Structure
•Accessory organs
• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Pancreas
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Function
• Organs of digestion break down food
physically and chemically
• Prepare food for absorption by cells of the body
• Digestive system eliminates waste
substances
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Structure and Function Exercise
Q: What is the oral cavity and what is its function?
A: The mouth and the first part of the digestive tract. It is
where the chemical and mechanical process of digestion
begins with teeth and salivary glands.
Q: Name the three parts of the small intestine and describe
their locations.
A: First segment, the duodenum, is about 10 inches long.
Second segment, the jejunum, is approximately 8 feet
long. Third segment, the ileum, is about 12 feet long.
Q: Name the first four sections of the colon.
A: Ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon,
and sigmoid colon.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Structure and Function Exercise
(continued)
Q: Describe the shape and location of the
pancreas.
A: Elongated, somewhat flattened organ that
lies posterior and slightly inferior to the
stomach.
Q: Describe the location and main function
of the gallbladder.
A: It is located on the inferior surface of the
liver and stores bile.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Appendicitis
Signs and Symptoms
• Inflammation of appendix, usually due to
obstruction or infection caused by a fecalith, foreign
body, or bacteria.
• Onset of symptoms include generalized abdominal
pain followed by localized pain in upper right
quadrant (URQ), nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.
• Pain eventually settles over the appendix in the right
lower abdomen (RLQ) with “board-like” rigidity,
increased tenderness, and abdominal spasms.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Appendicitis
Signs and Symptoms (continued)
• Fever, malaise, diarrhea, or constipation and
tachycardia are among the later signs and
symptoms.
• Sudden spontaneous relief of pain suggests
a ruptured appendix.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Appendicitis
Treatment
• Appendectomy.
• Surgery within 24 to 48 hours of first symptoms.
Delay can result in rupture and peritonitis as fecal
matter is released into the peritoneal cavity.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Clinically Related Exercise
Q: A 35-year-old man presents to the ED with RLQ
pain, rigid abdomen with increased tenderness and
abdominal cramping. The physician suspects he is
suffering from an inflammation of the appendage
located off the cecum. An inflammation of the
appendix is known as _________________.
A: appendicitis
Q: The physician recommends appendectomy and
explains that a delay in surgery may result in rupture
of the appendix. This can cause a serious infection of
the abdominal cavity or peritoneum called
________________________.
A: peritonitis
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Clinically Related Exercise
(continued)
Q: Dr. G charts removal of the appendix as an
__________________.
A: appendectomy
Q: Dr. J informs Joan that her appendicitis may
be due to an obstruction or infection
caused by a hard mass of fecal matter.
This type of mass is known as a
_______________.
A: fecalith
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Diverticulitis
Signs and Symptoms
• Acute inflammation
of diverticula
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Diverticulitis
Signs and Symptoms (continued)
• Tenderness and pain in LLQ of
abdomen.
• Intensity of pain can fluctuate.
• Cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever,
chills, or a change in bowel habits may
also be experienced.
• Eventually abscess may form in tissues
surrounding the colon.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Diverticulitis
Treatment
• Focuses on clearing up the inflammation and
infection, resting the colon, and preventing
or minimizing complications.
• Severe cases with acute pain and
complications require a hospital stay. Most
cases of severe diverticulitis are treated with
IV antibiotics and a few days without food or
drink to help the colon rest.
• Some cases may require colon resection with
a temporary colostomy while the colon heals.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Clinically Related Exercise
Q: Dr. X tells Ann that she has small, blister-like
pockets in the inner lining of her large intestine. He
tells her that these pockets are known as
____________________.
A: diverticula
Q: The nurse charts the Mr. J’s complaint of extreme
constipation as ________________.
A: obstipation
Q: Mr. F is diagnosed for the third time with a severe
case of diverticulitis. The physician explains that
surgery is needed to remove the diverticula. This
surgical procedure is called ____________________.
A: diverticulectomy
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Cholelithiasis
Signs and Symptoms
• Cholelithiasis and
choledocholithiasis
• Formation or
presence of
gallstones within the
gallbladder or bile
ducts.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Cholelithiasis
Signs and Symptoms (continued)
• Individuals with gallstones may remain
asymptomatic.
• Bile duct obstruction may result in a classic
“gallbladder attack”; commonly referred to as
biliary colic.
• Acute onset of URQ abdominal pain that radiates
to the shoulder and back.
• Nausea and vomiting may accompany the attack.
• Attacks typically tend to follow ingestion of large
meals or fatty foods.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Cholelithiasis
Treatment
• Cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for
symptomatic cholelithiasis.
• If condition is asymptomatic, treatment is
nonsurgical, unless symptoms reappear or unless
there is a history of previous gallstones with
complications.
• Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, a nonsurgical treatment.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Cholelithiasis
Treatment (continued)
• Insertion of a flexible catheter, guided by
fluoroscopy, directly to the stone. A Dormia
(stone) basket is threaded through the catheter,
opened, and twirled to entrap the stone. It is then
closed and withdrawn.
• Dissolving cholesterol-based stones by bile acid
therapy. Existing stones may be decreased in size
or dissolved completely.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Clinically Related Exercise
Q: Ms. G presents with an acute onset of URQ abdominal pain that
radiates to the shoulder and back, and complains of nausea and
vomiting. Dr. J suspects a formation of gallstones in the gallbladder.
The medical term for an abnormal condition of gallbladder stones is
__________________________.
A: cholecystolithiasis
Q: The doctor explains that removal of the gallbladder is the
treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis. The surgical
procedure for excision of the gallbladder is ___________________.
A: cholecystectomy
Q: Mr. F is scheduled for ultrasound to pulverize his gallstones. This
nonsurgical treatment, which is abbreviated ESWL, is defined as
________________________________________________.
A: extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Medical Vocabulary
• ascites
• borborygmus
• dysentery
• dyspepsia
• dysphagia
• enterologist
• esophagogastroduodenoscopy
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Medical Vocabulary
(continued)
• hyperemesis
• jaundice
• laparoscopic
• proctologist
• ptyalism
• sublingual
• volvulus
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Diagnostic Procedures
• Endoscopy
• Visual examination
of the interior of
organs and cavities
with a specialized
lighted instrument
called an endoscope.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Diagnostic Procedures
(continued)
• Sigmoidoscopy and
colonoscopy
• Sigmoidoscopy is an
examination of only
the lower third of the
colon.
• Colonoscopy is an
examination of the
entire length of the
colon.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Diagnostic Procedures
(continued)
• Barium enema (BE)
• Barium swallow
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Ultrasound (US)
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Word Building Exercise
Q: Visual examination of the sigmoid colon:
A: sigmoidoscopy
Q: Instrument for examining interior organs and cavities:
A: endoscope
Q: Visual examination of the colon:
A: colonoscopy
Q: Visual examination of within interior organs and cavities:
A: endoscopy
Q: Visual examination of the rectosigmoid colon:
A: proctosigmoidoscopy
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Medical and Surgical Procedures
• Bariatric surgery
• A. Vertical banded
gastroplasty
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Medical and Surgical Procedures
(continued)
• Bariatric surgery
• B. Roux-en-Y
gastric bypass
(RGB)
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Medical and Surgical Procedures
(continued)
• Colostomy
• Creation of an
opening into the
colon (through
the surface of
the abdomen).
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Medical and Surgical Procedures
Colostomy (continued)
• May be permanent or temporary.
• Performed as treatment for cancer or
diverticulitis.
• Colostomy allows elimination of feces into
a bag attached through the skin.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Medical and Surgical Procedures
(continued)
• Polypectomy
• Excision of small
tumorlike, benign
growths (polyps)
that project from a
mucous membrane
surface.
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Clinically Related Exercise
Q: Ms. K is diagnosed with colorectal CA. The physician explains
that an opening of the colon through the abdominal wall to the
outside surface will be created. This enables fecal mater to be
collected in an attached pouch. The surgical procedure to create
an opening (mouth) of the colon is called a _______________.
A: colostomy
Q: Dr. Jones discovers polyps during a colonoscopy. What surgical
procedure does the doctor perform to remove the polyps?
A: polypectomy
Q: 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 ___________
_____________.
A: bariatric surgery
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Clinically Related Exercise
(continued)
Q: The nurse explains to the bariatric surgical patient the
procedure for a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. What is the
abbreviation for this weight-loss surgery?
A: RGB
Q: 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 __________________________________.
A: vertical banded gastroplasty
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Pharmacology
• Antacids
• Antidiarrheals
• Antiemetics
• Laxatives
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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Clinically Related Exercise
Q: Mrs. J complains of nausea and vomiting for the past 3 days. The
medication prescribed will control nausea and vomiting by blocking
nerve impulses to the vomiting center of the brain. This medication
is known as a/an (antacid, antidiarrheal, antiemetic).
A: antiemetic
Q: Mrs. S is diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. She is instructed
to increase fluid intake and is prescribed a drug that will control her
loose bowel movements. The drug is known as a/an (antacid,
antidiarrheal, antiemetic).
A: antidiarrheal
Q: A patient diagnosed with excessive stomach acid is treated with a/an
(antacid, laxative, antiemetic).
A: antacid
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