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Weekly Overview

Week Four

Overview

In Week Four, you will learn the basic function and structure of the gastrointestinal system, along with some common terminology used. The gastrointestinal system is responsible for ingesting and digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating wastes. The main organs of this system include the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and anus. There are a second category of organs that aid in digestion called accessory organs, which include the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas. Food is digested into molecules that are absorbed into the blood in the form of nutrients that are used to sustain life.

There are different diseases that can affect the gastrointestinal system, and medical testing is performed to assess body functions and disease processes. To assign the correct diagnosis and procedure codes, and to process accurate claims, you must first be able to read and comprehend medical documentation that contains anatomy and physiology terms related to the gastrointestinal system.

What you will cover

1. Gastrointestinal system

a. This system is responsible for injecting and digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste. The main organs include the mouth, tongue, salivary glands, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, anus, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.

b. Identify common medical terms for the gastrointestinal system.

1) Alimentary canal: pathway that food enters, travels through, and is expelled by the body

2) Appendix: a small sac attached to the lower end of the large intestines that is thought to store good bacteria

3) Colon: also known as the large intestines, which is divided into four parts (cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, and descending colon)

4) Cecum: first part of the large intestines

5) Defecation: the process by which undigested food is removed from the body (bowel movement)

6) Duodenum: first part of the small intestines

7) Esophagus: flexible muscle-like tube that moves food from the pharynx to the stomach

8) Feces: bodily waste eliminated from the anus

9) Fundus: most superior part of the stomach

10) Gingiva: the gums

11) Jejunum: second part small intestines

12) Mastication: the process of chewing

13) Mesentery: membrane sheet of the peritoneum

14) Peritoneum: membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity

15) Peristalsis: contracting, smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract that propels food through the tract

16) Pharynx: the throat

17) Pyloric sphincter: muscular structure that keeps food in the stomach from entering the duodenum

18) Pylorus: narrow canal of the stomach just before it joins the duodenum

19) Spleen: organ located in the abdomen that aids the immune system by producing and removing red blood cells (purifies blood)

20) Villi: microscopic projections of the mucosa within the lumen of the small intestines

c. Identify the structure and function of the gastrointestinal system.

1) Structure: The gastrointestinal system begins with food entering the oral cavity (mouth) and continuing in to the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, then the anus, where food is eliminated.

2) Function: The purpose of the gastrointestinal tract is to absorb nutrients from food that is broken down by the body. The digestive system contains accessory organs that aid in the digestion process. There are many organs that aid in the process by breaking down food, through the uses of digestive enzymes, into nutrients, that include the salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.

d. Describe major diseases that affect the gastrointestinal system.

1) Vomiting: Matter is released by the stomach and comes through the mouth.

2) Diarrhea: a condition in which stool is liquid in form and released from the bowls at a frequent rate

3) Constipation: a condition in which eliminating stool is difficult and is associated with hardened feces

4) Appendicitis: inflammation and infection of the appendix

5) Cholecystitis: inflammation of the gallbladder

6) Cholelithiasis: gallstones in the gallbladder

7) Fecal impaction: hard, dry stool or feces unable to pass through a bowel movement

8) Pancreatitis: inflammation or infection of the pancreas

9) Ulcers: open sores

10) Abscess: swollen area within body tissue that contains pus

11) Anorexia: lack or loss of appetite for food

12) Bulimia: an eating disorder in which large quantities of food are consumed in a short amount of time, followed by feelings of guilt or shame and possibly the need to remove the food from the body in different ways

13) Caries: decay of tooth

14) Cirrhosis: chronic disease of the liver (inflamed; thickening)

15) Crohn’s disease: illness characterized by abnormal inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract

16) Diverticulitis: inflammation of the diverticulum

17) Enteritis: inflammation of the intestine

18) Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD): Stomach acid and bile flow back into the esophagus from the stomach.

19) Gastritis: stomach inflammation

20) Gingivitis: gum inflammation

21) Hemorrhoids: swollen vein or veins in the anus

22) Hepatitis: inflamed liver

23) Hernia: a condition where part of an organ is displaced and protrudes through the wall of the cavity (for example, an intestinal hernia)

24) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): gastrointestinal disorder causing cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, and spasms in the colon

25) Esophagitis: inflammation of the esophagus

26) Pancreatitis: inflammation of the pancreas

27) Polyp: a growth on the surface of the colon

28) Volvulus: twisted bowel

e. Describe major laboratory and diagnostic tests used to assess gastrointestinal diseases.

1) Colonoscopy: a colon test in which a thin, flexible scope is inserted into the rectum and used to view the large colon to assess for any ulcer, polyp, tumor, inflammation and disease process

2) Sigmoidoscopy: a test in which a thin, flexible scope inserted into the rectum and used to view the sigmoid colon to assess for any ulcer, polyp, tumor, inflammation and disease process

3) Upper GI endoscopy: a test in which an endoscope (thin, flexible viewing instrument) travels through the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) to assess for any ulcerations, growths, inflammation

4) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): an endoscopic test used to study the bile ducts, pancreatic duct, and gallbladder

5) Biopsy: a pathology examination of tissue removed during testing to assess for disease process

6) Blood tests: Specific blood tests can be performed to assess for different diseases, such as celiac.

7) Occult blood test: test that assesses for blood in the stool

8) Barium enema: an X-ray test performed to examine the lower part of the bowel after barium is inserted

9) Barium swallow: an X-ray test performed to examine the upper part of the bowel after barium is swallowed

10) Vital signs are clinical measurements that include a patient’s temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. The measurements are used to help detect abnormalities. There are normal range parameters, and if a value is too high or too low, it could be an indication of disease process.

f. Describe the main health care providers for the gastrointestinal department.

1) The gastroenterologist specializes in disorders of the gastrointestinal system. Gastrology is the study, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions pertaining to the gastrointestinal system.

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