Accessory Digestive Organs and Clinical Terminology

Accessory Digestive Organs

• Salivary Glands: Parotid, sublingual, and submandibular.
• Tongue/Teeth
• Liver: Produces bile (a fat emulsifier), stores vitamins A, E, D, and K, and aids in detoxification.
• Gallbladder: Stores and concentrates bile.
• Pancreas: Located posterior to/under the stomach. Produces insulin (for transport of sugar into cells) and pancreatic juices capable of breaking down proteins (protease), carbohydrates (amylase), and lipids (lipase). These enzymes pass into the duodenum (small intestine) through the pancreatic duct.

Terms

• Digestion: Process of changing food to a state where it can be used by the body.
• Metabolism: Includes all of the processes involved in the body's use of nutrients.
• Catabolism: Breaking down of body cells or substances, releasing energy and CO2.
• Anabolism: The building up of body cells and substances from nutrients and energy.
• Flatus: Gas.
• Feces: Stool; intestinal waste.
• Edema: Excessive fluid in tissues.
• Emesis: Vomit.
• Calorie: The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree.

Disorders

• Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix; pain in the lower part of the stomach.
• Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver; weight loss, yellow eyes, fatigue.
• Cholelithiasis: Gallstones; high fever, abdominal pain, nausea.
• Stomatitis: Inflammation inside of the mouth; pain, bleeding.
• Hiatal Hernia: Occurs when part of your stomach pushes upward through your diaphragm.
• Hemorrhoids: Inflamed veins in your anus and lower rectum.
• Cirrhosis: Damage of the liver; fatigue, nausea, poor appetite.

Diagnostic Testing

• Gastrectomy: Surgical removal of all or a part of the stomach.
• Colostomy: Surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface.
• Cholecystectomy: Surgical removal of the gallbladder.
• Sigmoidoscopy: Endoscopic examination of the interior of the rectum, sigmoid colon, and possibly a portion of the descending colon.
• Barium Swallow: Used for the upper GI series.
• Barium Enema: Used for the lower GI series.
• Cholecystogram: A radiograph of the gallbladder made after ingestion or injection of a radiopaque substance.