Absorption Antacids Antibiotic Module 2 Heartburn Glossary Barrett s oesophagus Bloating Body mass index Burping Chief cells Colon Digestion Endoscopy Enteroendocrine cells Epiglottis Epithelium Absorption is a route by which substances can enter the body. In the gastrointestinal tract most absorption occurs in the small intestine. An antacid is a substance which neutralizes stomach acidity. An antibiotic or antibacterial agent is a drug that inhibits bacterial growth or kills bacteria Barrett oesophagus is a change in the cells in the lower portion of the oesophagus where the normal stratified squamous epithelium is replaced by mucous secreting cells that are usually found lower in the gastrointestinal tract. Bloating is any abnormal swelling, or increase in diameter of the abdominal cavity. It is associated with feelings of a full and tight abdomen, which may cause pain Body mass index is a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of the person's height in metres. Burping is the release of gas from the gastrointestinal tract through the mouth. The gastric chief cells in the stomach release pepsinogen, as well as other gastric enzymes gastric lipase (that starts to breakdown fat). The colon (also called the large intestine or bowel) is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract. It functions to absorb water from the indigestible food matter, and then to pass waste material from the body. Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller components that are more easily absorbed into a blood stream. Endoscopy means looking inside and refers to looking inside the body for medical reasons using an endoscope. An endoscope is an instrument used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body such as the oesophagus or stomach. Enteroendocrine cells are specialized cells located in the gastrointestinal tract. They produce hormones in response to stimuli such as stretch of the wall or the presence of nutrients within the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. The epiglottis is a flap of tissue attached to the entrance of the larynx. Epithelium is a covering tissue that lines the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body.
Fibrosis Gastric acid Gastrin Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD or GERD) H2 receptor antagonists Heartburn Helicobacter pylori Hiatus hernia Histamine Hormone Ibuprofen Inflammation Laproscopic surgery Fibrosis is similar to the process of scarring and is the formation of excess connective tissue in an organ or tissue in response to injury. Gastric acid is a digestive fluid, formed in the stomach. It has a ph of 1.5 to 3.5 and is composed of hydrochloric acid (HCl) Gastric acid plays a key role in digestion of proteins. Gastrin is a hormone that stimulates secretion of gastric acid (HCl) by parietal cells in the stomach and also increases gastric motility. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a chronic symptom of mucosal damage caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the oesophagus. GORD is usually caused by abnormal relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter, which normally holds the top of the stomach closed, impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the oesophagus, or by a hiatal hernia. The H2 receptor antagonists are a class of drugs that block the action of histamine on parietal cells in the stomach, decreasing the production of gastric acid. Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest often associated with regurgitation of gastric acid (gastric reflux) which is the major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria found in the stomach. A hiatus hernia is the protrusion of the upper part of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm. Histamine is a compound that regulates the physiological functions of the gastrointestinal tract as well as being involved in local immune responses such as allergies. A hormone is a chemical released by a cell in one part of the body that affects the function of cells in other parts of the body. Ibuprofen is a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for pain relief, fever reduction, and swelling. Inflammation is part of the response of tissues to harmful stimuli. The classical signs of inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the body to remove the stimuli and initiate healing. Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery, is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions (usually 0.5 1.5 cm).
Large intestine Lower oesophageal sphincter Mucous Mucous neck cells Nausea Nutrient Obesity Oesophagitis Oesophagus Oral cavity Pancreas Parasympathetic nervous system Parietal cells The large intestine (also called the bowel or colon) is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract. It functions to absorb water from the indigestible food matter, and then to pass waste material from the body. The lower oesophageal sphincter is a band of smooth muscle located at the junction between the oesophagus and the stomach. Mucus is a slippery secretion produced by epithelial cells in mucous membranes. Mucous neck cells are mucus producing cells which cover the inside of the stomach, protecting it from the gastric acid. Nausea is a sensation of discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often is felt before vomiting but you can suffer nausea without vomiting. A nutrient is a chemical that a person needs to live and grow which must be taken in from its environment. Nutrients are used to build and repair tissues, regulate body processes and are converted to energy. Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. People are considered obese when their body mass index (BMI) exceeds 30 kg/m2. Oesophagitis (or esophagitis) is inflammation of the oesophagus. The oesophagus (or esophagus) is a muscular tube that the food passes through from the pharynx to the stomach. The oral cavity is the first part of the digestive tract that receives the food. The pancreas is an organ in both the digestive system and endocrine system. It produces the hormones insulin and glucagon as well as secretes pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist the digestion of nutrients in the small intestine. The parasympathetic nervous system (PSN) is one of main divisions of the autonomic nervous system. The parasympathetic system is responsible for stimulation of "rest and digest" activities, especially those that occur after eating. Parietal cells are the cells in the stomach epithelium that secrete gastric acid (HCl) and intrinsic factor. These cells are only located in glands found in a particular area of the stomach, known as the fundus.
Pepsinogen Pharynx Prostaglandin Proton pump Proton pump inhibitors Pylorus Regurgitation Salivary glands Scar Small intestine Somatostatin Stomach Stratified squamous epithelium Pepsinogen is released by the chief cells in the stomach. The acid in the stomach activates the enzyme to form pepsin which begins the breakdown of proteins. The pharynx is located at the back of the oral cavity at the top of the throat. It is part of both the digestive tract and the respiratory system. Prostaglandins are a group of compounds that have important functions such as regulating the contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle, causing platelet aggregation and regulating inflammatory responses. Prostaglandins inhibit the acid secretion by parietal cells in the stomach. Proton pumps or gastric hydrogen potassium ATPase (H+/K+ ATPase) are present in the stomach and are responsible primarily for production of gastric acid. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of drugs whose main action is a long lasting reduction in gastric acid production. The pylorus is the region of the stomach that connects to the beginning of the small intestine. It is characterised by a pyloric sphincter which stops food passing into the small intestine before it is digested or before the small intestine is ready to receive it. Regurgitation is the expulsion of material, usually undigested food or blood, from the mouth, pharynx, or oesophagus. The salivary glands are glands that produce saliva. They have ducts to connect them to the oral cavity so that the saliva can be excreted into the mouth. A scar is an area of fibrous tissue (fibrosis) that replaces normal tissue after an injury. A scar results from the process of wound repair, thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. The small intestine (or small bowel) is the part of the gastrointestinal tract after the stomach and before the large intestine. The small intestine is where most digestion and absorption of food takes place. Somatostatin is a hormone that inhibits the release of numerous hormones. The stomach is a muscular, hollow, organ in the digestive tract located between the oesophagus and the small intestine. A stratified squamous epithelium consists of layers of squamous (flattened) epithelial cells. This type of epithelium is well suited to areas in the body subject to abrasion, as it is the thickest and layers can be sequentially brushed off and replaced before the underlying tissue is exposed. It forms the outermost layer of the skin and the inner lining of the mouth, oesophagus, and vagina
Stricture Swallowing Sympathetic nervous system Ulcer Urea Urease A stricture is a narrowing or tightening of a passage way that makes the movement of substances through that passageway difficult. Swallowing is a complex neuromuscular activity that makes something pass from the mouth, to the pharynx, and into the oesophagus, while shutting the epiglottis. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is one of major parts of the autonomic nervous system it functions to mobilize the body's nervous system fight or flight response. An ulcer results from damage to the epithelial layer leading to a break in the epithelium of an organ which stops the organ from continuing its normal functions. Urea plays an important role in the metabolism of nitrogencontaining compounds such as proteins. Urea is the main nitrogen containing substance in the urine. Urease is an enzyme that causes the breakdown of urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia.