Digestion and digestive system can affect or contribute to the state of person health to a large extent .it is essential for everyone in the medical field to understand the way it functions and conditions that could affect its functioning. The common medical terms for the gastrointestinal system are:

Amylase: Enzyme by the salivary glands and pancreas to help in digesting starches in the diet. Patients with salivary problems or pancreatitis may require an increment of their blood amylase levels.

Bezoar: A clump of hair or food in the alimentary canal(digestive tract) that hinders passing of food by obstructing the pathway from stomach to small intestine.

Amyloidosis: A group of diseases occurring due to the abnormal depositing of amyloid protein in body organs and tissues. Duodenum: First part of small intestine.

Celiac disease: abnormal reaction by the immune system of the body to gluten a protein that comes from foods such as wheat, barley and rye. The people with the disease get damage to the small intestines by immune system preventing proper absorption of nutrients in the food. Diarrhea, weight loss and anaemia are some of the celiac diseases symptoms.

Elastase: An enzyme in the fluids that the pancreas produces to aid in the digestion of proteins including elastin. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a substance that can inhibit elastase.

Gastroparesis: A partial or full paralysis of the stomach that prevents is from emptying food in the normal fashion. Diabetes is one of the causes.

Gastrinoma: A tumour that develops in the duodenum or pancreas and associated with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Gastrinomas secrete the gastrin hormone.

Gastrin: A hormone that makes the stomach to produce too much acid that increases the risk of duodenal and stomach ulcers.

Gastroesophageal reflux: A condition in which the stomach acid and contents back up into the oesophagus causing regurgitation or symptoms oh heartburn.

Hemorrhoid: Swelling or enlarging of the vein around or within the rectum or anus.

H2 blockers: A group of digestive disease drugs that help to relieve acid reflux and pain. They suppress production of stomach acid. Hemorrhoidectomy: Removing haemorrhoids by surgery.

HIDA scan: A test for diagnosing particular conditions of the gallbladder or the liver that involves injecting the patient with radioactive material, hydroxy iminodiacetic acid (HIDA).

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Jaundice: Yellowing of the eye whites and skin due to abnormally high levels of pigment bilirubin that might occur if there is a blockage in the bile duct or improper functioning of the liver.

Jejunostomy tube: Insertion of a feeding tube in a surgical procedure in the jejunum, a part of the small intestine. It helps in feeding nutrients patients who cannot swallow.

Laparoscopic surgery: A minimally invasive surgery that allows insertion of a laparoscope and other surgical instruments through the incision to transmit pictures of an internal organ to guide a surgeon.

Liver function tests (LFTs): Tests that show evidence of the conditions that affect the normal functioning of gallbladder, liver or bile ducts. They are also known as liver blood tests or hepatic enzymes.

Lipase: Enzyme by the pancreas for secretion into the small intestine to help in digestion of certain fats in the food.

Pancreatitis: Inflammation of pancreas.

Parenteral nutrition: A feeding method that involves inserting a catheter into a vein to allow nutrients to get directly into the bloodstream.

Proton pump inhibitors: Drugs that suppress production of acid in the stomach.

Secretin: A hormone in the small intestines to help in the digestion.

Secretin stimulation test: Test for measuring pancreatic ability to respond to hormone secretin.

Sclerotherapy: Injection of a chemical irritant solution into a vein to harden or sclerose it by causing the formation of a scar. It forces flow of blood into the nearby healthy blood vessels. Sclerotherapy is a procedure that doctors use to treat haemorrhoids, spider veins, varicose and oesophagal varices.

Ultrasound: Use of high-frequency sound waves to produce the images of internal organs and structures.

Vague nerve: Vague nerve or cranial nerve ten regulates the functioning of many body organs including most of those in the intestinal tract. It also brings sensory information.

Villi: Hair-like structures lining the small intestine and absorbs nutrients from food.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: A rare gastrointestinal system disorder caused by a tumour called gastrinoma. Most gastrinomas occur in the pancreas. A tumour secretes gastrin hormone that increases acid levels in the stomach causing severe and recurrent ulcers on the stomach, oesophagus as well as the intestines.

The digestive system is an important for proper functioning as it helps in breaking down the food and drink to nutrients that nourish and energize the body.

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