Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(^284) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified

How the Gastrointestinal System Works

The gastrointestinal system includes the alimentary canal (mouth, esophagus,

stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum) and accessory organs (salivary

glands, liver, pancreas, gallbladder) and ducts. The alimentary canal is a hollow

tube lined with mucous membrane. The gastrointestinal tract functions to digest

food, absorb nutrients, propel the contents through the lumen, and eliminate the

waste products.

Key Terms

Accessory organs

Alimentary canal

Cholecystokinin

Fatty acids

Gastrin

Gastrointestinal tract

Glucagon

Hydrochloric acid

Ileocecal valve

Insulin

Islets of Langerhans

Lipase

Lower esophageal

sphincter (LES)

Oropharynx

Pepsin

Pepsinogen

Plasma

Proteins

Secretin

Sphincter of Oddi

Triglycerides

Trypsin

Upper esophageal

sphincter (UES)

Gastritis

Hepatitis

Hiatal hernia

Intestinal obstruction and

paralytic ileus

Pancreatitis

Peritonitis

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)

Ulcerative colitis

Appendicitis

Cholecystitis

Cirrhosis

Crohn’s disease

Diverticulitis disease

Gastroenteritis

Gastroesophageal reflux

disease (GERD)

Gastrointestinal bleed

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Learning Objectives