Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
What is the main role of the digestive system?
It regulates the energy breakdown for the cells of the body
What is the definition of digestion?
The process in which substances are changed into forms that can be absorbed through the cell membranes
Where does the process of digestion begin, and how?
In the mouth. The teeth macerate the food and saliva binds it
What are the pharynx and the esophagus?
The pharynx (in which are included the nasopharynx, ornpharynx, laryngopharynx) and esophagus combined makeup the passageway to the stomach. No digestive process happens here.
What are the four parts of which the stomach is composed?
The cardiac, the fundus, the body, and the pyloric regions
What are the functions of the stomach?
To receive food via the esophagus, mix it with gastric juices, initiate digestion of proteins, carry on a small amount of absorption, move food into small intestine
What are the ten main organs that makeup the digestive system?
Mouth Pharynx Esophagus Stomach Small intestine Large intestine Liver Gallbladder Pancreas
What are the four types of gastric juices secreted in the stomach and where are they secreted from?
Chief cells secrete digestive enzymes
parietal cell secrete hydrochloric acid
Mucous cell secrete mucous to protect walls against pepsin
Chief cells secrete pepsin in form of pepsinogen. Pepsin is a protein splitting enzyme and most efficient in acidic environments.
What is the mixture of gastric juices and food called?
Chyme
What are the main functions of the small intestine?
Receives secretions from liver and pancreas, finalizes digestion of nutrients from chyme, absorbs different products of digestion, moves remaining residues to large intestine
What are the three pieces of the small intestine called?
The duodenum
The ileum
The jejunum
What are the finger like projections in the small intestines called and what do they do?
Villi, they increase the surface area of the intestinal lining while glands release a watery fluid that keeps the chyme moving. The increased surface area maximizes absorption of nutrients.
How long does it take for food to pass through the small intestine?
3-10 hours
What are the five main parts of the large intestine called?
cecum colon Ascending colon Transverse colon Descending colon Sigmoid colon, rectum and anal canal
What are the four basic function of the large intestine?
Reabsorption of water
Reabsorption of electrolytes
Formation of feces
Storage of feces
What’s the only organ that will regenerate itself if part of it is damaged?
The liver, up to 25 percent can be removed
What are some of the functions of the liver?
Conversion of glucose to glycogen
Conversion of non-carbohydrates to glucose
Oxidation of fatty acids
Synthesis of lipoproteins phospholipids and cholesterol
Conversion of carbs and proteins into fats
Conversion of hormones like insulin thyroxin adrenaline estrogen, etc
Dissemination of amino acids
Synthesis of urea
Sunthesis of blood proteins
Interconversion of amino acids
Stores glycogen vitamins a, d, b13 and iron
Remove damaged blood cells and foreign substances by phagocytosis
Alters chemical composition of toxins to try to expel them from body
Secretes bile which is necessary for digestion of fats, absorption of fat soluble vitamins (a d e f and k) and helps to assimilate calcium
What does the gall bladder excrete?
Bile and bile salts which enhance absorption of fatty acids and some fat soluble vitamins. It breaks down the fat globs that they form when they clump together which are hard to digest. This is called emulsification
What does the pancreas excrete and what do they do?
Pancreatic amylase- digests carbs
Pancreatic lipase- digests fat
Carboxypeptidase, chymotrypsin, trypsin- protein splitting enzymes
Nucleases-break down nucleic acid molecules
What is stomatitis and what are the herbal actions that can be used to treat it?
Any inflammatory condition of the mouth including canker sores and gingivitis. Anti-inflammatory Anti-microbial Herbs for low immunity Demulcent herbs
What are some possible causes of canker sores?
Vitamin c deficiency decrease immune system Decreased digestive flora Increased sugar intake Food sensitivities Stress
What are some possible causes of gingivitis and what are some specific herbs for treatment of this condition?
Poor dental hygiene
Poor nutrition/high sugar
Hormonal changes may play a factor
B12 deficiency can cause bleeding gums
Astringent herbs are important to reduce swelling (white oak, yarrow)
Specific herbs include Myrrh and prickly ash.
What are the two type of Ulcers? What are the differences between the two?
Gastric/Peptic ulcers-found in lesser curvature of the stomach,pain worse after eating, frequently genetic, can lead to stomach cancer, constant pain
Duodenal ulcer-pain decreases after eating, often worst at night, significant link to H pylori bacteria. Antibiotics will treat. No increase in cancer rate.
What are some things you can do to treat ulcers?
- decrease stress
- avoid alcohol and tobacco
- reduce sugar and salt intake
- keep a food diary to keep track of which foods make ulcers worse
- bananas and cabbage juice have both been shown to heal ulcers
- increase fibre
- avoid drugs like aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (ibuprofin)
What are some herbal actions that are used to treat ulcers?
Demulcents (soothing mucosal tissues) Vulnerarys (healing tissue) Acid reducimg Anti-inflammatory Anti-microbial
What are esophagitis and esophageal reflux and what are some of their symptoms? List some possible causes
Esophagitis is the irritation of the mucosa of esophagus. Esophageal reflux refers to the relaxation of the sphincter allowing gastric comtemts into esophagus.
- burning sensation
- difficulty swallowing
- coughing
- choking feeling
- heart burn
Can be caused by eating disorders, alcoholism, hiatus hernias or low stomach acid
What are some ways to treat esophagitis
- reducing irritants (alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, etc)
- raise head during sleeping
- avoid eating 2 hours before bed
- weight can be a factor
- avoid tight clothes and activities that put pressure on the abdomen
- chew food well and eat slowly
- stress reduction
What are some herbal actions that can be used to treat esophagitis? What action is contraindicated in this case?
Demulcent Anti-inflammatory Vulnerary Carminative Astringents to tone sphincter
Contraindicated: bitters
What is gastritis and what are some potential symptoms?
List some potential causes
A broad term for irritation/inflammation of gastric mucosa (not an ulcer)
Pain in stomach
Nausea-sometimes vomiting
Burning sensation
Causes: Bacterial infections (esp. H. Pylori) Ingestion of caustic substances Meds like aspirin and non-steroidal pain meds, Alcohol Drug allergies Food poisoning Physical stress
What are some lifestyle modifications you can use to improve gastritis?
Avoiding irritants including sugar, caffeine, salty and spicy foods and smoking
Light meals, no fibre
What are some herbal actions that can be used to treat gastritis?
Demulcent
Anti-inflammatory
Carminative
acid balancing (Filipendula ulmaris- meadow sweet is the herb of choice)
What are some supplements that are beneficial for gastritis and ulcers?
N-acetyl cysteine Vitamin c Vitamin a Zinc Glutamine (for ulcers)
What is cholecystitis and what are some herbs that are specific in its treatment? What are some actions that can be used to treat it?
An inflammation of the gall bladder and presence of calculi in gall bladder or bile duct. Can be acute or chronic. Chronic usually presents as pain and tenderness near the bottom right ribcage, indigestion and nausea may also be present.
Acute manifests as intense pain and vomiting with a potential fever. This may indicate calculi in gall bladder.
Specific herbs: Chionathus virginicus (fringe tree) Chelone glabra (balmony) Veronicastrum virginicum (black root) Euonymus atropurpureus (wahoo) Cheldonium majas (greater celendine) Fumaria off. (fumitory)
Actions: Anti-inflammatory Anti-spasmodic Antilithic Tonics Demulcent Hepatic tonic Cholegogues (used with caution to avoid over stimulation of gall bladder. Use only with chronic) Antithetic (for dissolving calculi- cleavers, stone root, boldo, etc)
What are some lifestyle modifications that can be used to help treat cholecystitis?
Addresing food allergies Low fat high fibre diet to reduce cholesterol and eliminate constipation Decrease sugar 6-8 glasses of water daily Slowly Reduce weight if necessary Digestive enzymes with meals Small amounts of red wine before meals Castor oil packs to abdomen for pain Supplement with Choline, b-complex, vit c, and for low stomach acidity p-Betaine HCL
What are the main causes of liver disease?
Viral or bacterial infection
Hepatoxic chemicals (alcohol, drugs, pollutants, etc)
Parasite infections
