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. You may be taking a walk or studying or sleeping, having forgotten all