12.1 – Introduction to the Digestive System

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the anatomy and describe the main functions of the digestive system and accessory structures
  • Analyze, translate, and define medical terms and common abbreviations of the digestive system
  • Practice the spelling and pronunciation of digestive system medical terminology
  • Identify the medical specialties associated with the digestive system and explore common diseases, disorders, diagnostic tests and procedures

Digestive System Word Parts

Click on prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes to reveal a list of word parts to memorize for the digestive system.

Prefix
  • hemi– (half)
  • endo– (within, in)
  • sub– (under, below)
  • dys– (painful, abnormal, difficult, laboured)
 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
  • -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 (tumour)
  • -sis (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)

Activity source: Digestive System Word Parts by Kimberlee Carter, from Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY- 4.0. /Text version added.

Introduction to the Digestive System

The digestive system is continually at work, yet people seldom appreciate the complex tasks it performs in a choreographed biologic symphony. Consider what happens when you eat an apple. Of course, you enjoy the apple’s taste as you chew it, but in the hours that follow, unless something goes amiss and you get a stomachache, you don’t notice that your digestive system is working. You may be taking a walk or studying or sleeping, having forgotten all about the apple, but your stomach and intestines are busy digesting it and absorbing its vitamins and other nutrients. By the time any waste material is excreted, the body has appropriated all it can use from the apple. In short, whether you pay attention or not, the organs of the digestive system perform their specific functions, allowing you to use the food you eat to keep you going.

This chapter examines the structure and functions of these organs, and explores the mechanics and chemistry of the digestive processes. The function of the digestive system is to break down the foods you eat, release their nutrients, and absorb those nutrients into the body. Although the small intestine is the workhorse of the system, where the majority of digestion occurs, and where most of the released nutrients are absorbed into the blood or lymph, each of the digestive system organs makes a vital contribution to this process (see Figure 12.1).

The digestive system. Image description available.
Figure 12.1 Components of the Digestive System. All digestive organs play integral roles in the life-sustaining process of digestion. From Betts et al., 2013. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. [Fig. 12.1 Image description.]

Watch Digestive System, Part 1: Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology #33 (11 min)

Media 12.1: CrashCourse. (2015, September 7). Digestive system, part 1: Crash Course anatomy & physiology #33 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/yIoTRGfcMqM

Digestive System Medical Terms

Now that you have memorized the word parts, see if you can break down the following digestive terms and define them.

Digestive System Medical Terms (Text Version)

Practice the following digestive system words by breaking into word parts and pronouncing.

  1. gastroenterology (gastr/o/enter/o/logy)
    • study of the stomach and intestines
  2. cholecystitis (chol/e/cyst/itis)
    • inflammation of the gallbladder
  3. proctoscope (proct/o/scope)
    • instrument used to view the rectum
  4. pyloroplasty (pylor/o/plasty)
    • surgical repair of the pylorus
  5. hepatomegaly (hepat/o/megaly)
    • enlarged liver
  6. gastric (gastr/ic)
    • pertaining to the stomach
  7. cholangiography (cholangi/o/graphy)
    • radiographic imaging of the bile duct
  8. gastroenterologist (gastr/o/enter/o/logist)
    • specialist who studies and treats stomach and intestines
  9. cholangiogram (cholangi/o/gram)
    • radiographic image of the bile duct
  10. hepatoma (hepat/oma)
    • tumour of the liver
  11. pancreatitis (pancreat/itis)
    • inflammation of the pancreas
  12. esophagogram (esophag/o/gram)
    • radiographic image of the esophagus
  13. steatosis (steat/osis)
    • abnormal condition of fat
  14. rectocele (rect/o/cele)
    • protrusion of the rectum
  15. endoscope (endo/scope )
    • instrument used to view within (hollow organs)
  16. abdominal (abdomin/al)
    • pertaining to the abdomen
  17. proctoptosis (proct/o/ptosis)
    • condition of prolapse of the rectum
  18. diverticulitis (diverticul/itis)
    • inflammation of the diverticulum
  19. oral (or/al)
    • pertaining to the mouth
  20. appendectomy (append/ectomy)
    • excision of the appendix
  21. esophagoscopy (esophag/o/scopy)
    • process of viewing the esophagus
  22. cheilorrhaphy (cheil/o/rrhaphy)
    • suturing of the lip
  23. glossorrhaphy (gloss/o/rrhaphy)
    • suturing of the tongue
  24. pyloromyotomy (pylor/o/my/o/tomy)
    • incision into the pyloric muscle
  25. gastroplasty (gastr/o/plasty)
    • surgical repair of the stomach
  26. colectomy (col/ectomy)
    • excision of the colon
  27. sigmoidoscopy (sigmoid/o/scopy)
    • process of viewing the sigmoid colon
  28. palatitis (palat/itis)
    • inflammation of the palate
  29. esophageal (esophag/eal)
    • pertaining to the esophagus
  30. colitis (col/itis)
    • inflammation of the colon
  31. ileocecal (ile/o/cec/al)
    • pertaining to the ileum and cecum
  32. gastrectomy (gastr/ectomy)
    • excision of the stomach
  33. anoplasty (an/o/plasty)
    • surgical repair of the anus
  34. cholelithiasis (chole/lith/iasis)
    • condition of gallstones
  35. gastroscopy (gastr/o/scopy)
    • process of viewing the stomach
  36. colostomy(col/o/stomy)
    • creation of an artificial opening in the colon
  37. polyposis (polyp/osis)
    • abnormal condition of (multiple) polyps
  38. laparoscopy (lapar/o/scopy)
    • process of viewing the abdominal cavity
  39. cholecystectomy (chole/cyst/ectomy)
    • excision of the gallbladder to remove stones
  40. glossitis (gloss/itis)
    • inflammation of the tongue
  41. cholangioma (cholangi/oma)
    • tumour of the bile duct
  42. pancreatic (pancreat/ic)
    • pertaining to the pancreas
  43. stomatitis (stomat/itis)
    • inflammation of the mouth
  44. ileocecal (ile/o/cec/al)
    • pertaining to the ileum and cecum
  45. nasogastric (nas/o/gastr/ic)
    • pertaining to the nose and stomach
  46. proctoscopy (proct/o/scopy)
    • process of viewing the rectum
  47. herniorrhaphy (herni/o/rrhaphy)
    • suturing of a hernia
  48. appendicitis (appendic/itis)
    • inflammation of the appendix
  49. gingivectomy (gingiv/ectomy)
    • excision of the gums
  50. gastroenterocolitis (gastr/o/enter/o/col/itis)
    • inflammation of the stomach, intestines, and colon
  51. choledocholithotomy (choledoch/o/lith/o/tomy)
    • incision into the common bile duct to remove stones
  52. gastroscope (gastr/o/scope)
    • instrument used to view the stomach
  53. diverticulosis (diverticul/osis)
    • abnormal condition of having diverticula
  54. uvulitis (uvul/itis)
    • inflammation of the uvula
  55. dysphagia (dys/phagia)
    • difficult swallowing
  56. gastrostomy (gastr/o/stomy)
    • creation of an artificial opening in the stomach
  57. hemicolectomy (hemi/col/ectomy)
    • excision of half of the colon
  58. choledocholithiasis (choledoch/o/lith/iasis)
    • condition of stones in the common bile duct
  59. uvulectomy (uvul/ectomy)
    • excision of the uvula
  60. peritoneal (periton/eal)
    • pertaining to the peritoneum
  61. ileostomy (ile/o/stomy)
    • creation of an artificial opening in the ileum
  62. steatorrhea (steat/o/rrhea)
    • discharge of fat
  63. sialolith (sial/o/lith)
    • stone in the salivary gland
  64. proctology (proct/o/logy)
    • study of disease and disorders of the rectum
  65. gastrojejunostomy (gastr/o/jejun/o/stomy)
    • creation of an artificial opening between the stomach and the jejunum
  66. rectal (rect/al)
    • pertaining to the rectum
  67. gingivitis (gingiv/itis)
    • inflammation of the gums
  68. colonoscopy (colon/o/scopy)
    • process of viewing the colon
  69. colorectal (col/o/rect/al)
    • pertaining to the colon and rectum
  70. anal (an/al)
    • pertaining to the anus
  71. duodenal (duoden/al)
    • pertaining to the duodenum
  72. abdominocentesis (abdomin/o/centesis)
    • surgical puncture to aspirate fluid from the abdomen
  73. hepatitis (hepat/itis)
    • inflammation of the liver
  74. laparoscope (lapar/o/scope)
    • instrument used to view the abdominal cavity
  75. antrectomy (antr/ectomy)
    • excision of the antrum (of the stomach)
  76. enterorrhaphy (enter/o/rrhaphy)
    • suturing of the intestine
  77. esophagitis (esophag/itis)
    • inflammation of the esophagus
  78. uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
    • uvul/o/palat/o/pharyng/o/plasty
    • surgical repair of the uvula, palate, and pharynx
  79. peritonitis (periton/itis)
    • inflammation of the peritoneum
  80. diverticulectomy (diverticul/ectomy)
    • excision of the diverticula
  81. enteropathy (enter/o/pathy)
    • disease of the intestines
  82. proctologist (proct/o/logist)
    • Specialist who studies and treats diseases of the rectum
  83. gastritis (gastr/itis)
    • inflammation of the stomach
  84. abdominoplasty (abdomin/o/plasty)
    • surgical repair of the abdomen
  85. celiotomy (celi/o/tomy)
    • incision into the abdominal cavity
  86. gastroenteritis (gastr/o/enter/itis)
    • inflammation of the stomach and intestines
  87. endoscopy (endo/scopy)
    • process of viewing within (hollow organs)
  88. palatoplasty (palat/o/plasty)
    • surgical repair of the palate
  89. laparotomy (lapar/o/tomy)
    • incision into the abdominal cavity
  90. colonoscope (colon/o/scope)
    • instrument used to view the colon
  91. polypectomy (polyp/ectomy)
    • excision of polyps
  92. gastrojejunostomy (gastr/o/jejun/o/stomy)
    • creation of an artificial opening between the stomach and the jejunum
  93. CT colonography (CT colon/o/graphy)
    • radiographic imaging of the colon using computed tomography
  94. esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
    • esophag/o/gastr/o/duoden/o/scopy
    • process of viewing the esophagus, stomach and duodenum
  95. stomatogastric (stomat/o/gastr/ic)
    • pertaining to the mouth and stomach
  96. celiac (celi/ac)
    • pertaining to the abdomen
  97. gastromalacia (gastr/o/malacia)
    • softening of the stomach
  98. dyspepsia (dys/pepsia)
    • difficult digestion
  99. esophagogastroplasty (esophag/o/gastr/o/plasty)
    • surgical repair of the esophagus and stomach
  100. sublingual (sub/lingu/al)
    • pertaining to under the tongue
  101. steatohepatitis (steat/o/hepat/itis)
    • inflammation of liver associated with fat

Activity source: Digestive System Medical Terms by Kimberlee Carter, from Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY- 4.0. /Text version added.

Digestive System

Practice with this activity:

Digestive System(Text version)

Fill in the blanks using the following list of words:

  • polyp
  • palpate
  • obesity
  • hemorrhoids
  • emesis
  • melena
  • flatus
  • ascites
  • feces
  • reflux
  • nausea
  • cirrhosis
  • dysentery
  • adhesion
  • stoma

The Physician during an examination will ________[Blank 1] to feel for texture, size, consistency and location of body parts with hands.
A _______[Blank 2] is a small tumour-like growth that extend from the surface of a mucous membrane.
___________[Blank 3] is an abnormal increase in the proportion of fat cells resulting in excess body weight for height.
Distended and swollen veins in the rectum and anus are called ___________[Blank 4].
The medical term for vomiting is ____________[Blank 5].
__________[Blank 6] is black tarry stool that contains blood from the gastrointestinal tract.
_________[Blank 7] is the medical term for gas in the gastrointestinal tract.
Abnormal intraperitoneal accumulation of fluid with large amount of proteins and electrolytes is _________[Blank 8].
____________ is fecal matter.
Abnormal backward flow is called ____________[Blank 10].
The urge to vomit is __________[Blank 11].
__________[Blank 12] is a chronic degenerative disease of the liver due to alcohol abuse.
___________[Blank 13] is an inflammation of the intestine presenting with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.
A band of scar tissue that binds anatomic surfaces to each other is called an ___________[Blank 14].
The surgical opening between an organ and the surface of the body is called a ___________[Blank 15].

Check your answers: [1]

Activity source: Digestive System by Alyssa Arsenault, licensed under CC BY- 4.0 from “Digestive System” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY- 4.0. / Converted to Text.

Image Descriptions

Figure 12.1 image description: This diagram shows the digestive system of a human being, with the major organs labeled. Labels read (clockwise, from top): salivary glands: parotid gland, sublingual gland, submandibular gland; pharynx, stomach, spleen, pancreas, large intestine: transverse colon, ascending colon, descending colon, cecum, sigmoid colon, appendix, rectum, anal canal, anus; small intestine: duodenum, jejunum, ileum, gall bladder, liver, esophagus, tongue, mouth. [Return to Figure 12.1].

Attribution

Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “Digestive System” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY 4.0. / A derivative of Betts et al., which can be accessed for free from Anatomy and Physiology (OpenStax). Adaptations: dividing Digestive System chapter content into sub-chapters.

 

  1.  1. palpate, 2. polyp, 3. obesity, 4. hemorrhoids, 5. emesis, 6. melena, 7. flatus, 8.ascites, 9. feces, 10.  reflux, 11. nausea, 12. cirrhosis, 13. dysentery, 14. adhesion, 15. stoma ↵

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Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e Copyright © 2024 by Kimberlee Carter; Marie Rutherford; and Connie Stevens is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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