lower gastrointestinal tract

(noun)

This tract includes most of the small intestine and all of the large intestine.

Related Terms

Examples of lower gastrointestinal tract in the following topics:

  • Anatomy of the Digestive System

    • The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus.
    • The upper gastrointestinal tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
    • The lower gastrointestinal tract includes most of the small intestine and all of the large intestine.
    • The ligament of Treitz is sometimes used to divide the upper and lower GI tracts.
    • This image shows the position of the small intestine in the gastrointestinal tract.

  • Organs of the Digestive System

    • The organs of the digestive system can be divided into upper and lower digestive tracts.
    • The major organs within our digestive system can be split into two major segments of this tube: the upper gastrointestinal tract, and the lower gastrointestinal tract.
    • The upper gastrointestinal, or GI, tract is made up of three main parts:
    • The exact dividing line between upper and lower tracts can vary, depending on which medical specialist is examining the GI tract.
    • The bolus gets swallowed, and begins its journey through the upper gastrointestinal tract.

  • Occult Blood

    • Fecal occult blood (FOB) refers to not-visibly-apparent blood in the feces that may indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
    • The purpose of fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) is to detect subtle blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract, anywhere from the mouth to the colon.
    • Positive tests ("positive stool") may result from either upper gastrointestinal bleeding or lower gastrointestinal bleeding and warrant further investigation for peptic ulcers or a malignancy (such as colorectal cancer or gastric cancer).
    • Gastrointestinal bleeding has many potential sources, and positive test results usually lead to further testing for the bleeding site, usually looking at possible lower gastrointestinal bleeding before looking at upper gastrointestinal bleeding causes, unless there are other clinical clues.
    • In the event of a positive fecal occult blood test, the next step in the workup is a form of visualization of the gastrointestinal tract by one of several means: sigmoidoscopy, an examination of the rectum and lower colon with a lighted instrument to look for abnormalities, such as polyps; colonoscopy, a more thorough examination of the rectum and entire colon; virtual colonoscopy; endoscopy refers to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy sometimes performed with chromoendoscopy; and double contrast barium enema: a series of X-rays of the colon and rectum.

  • Plexuses

    • The brachial plexus is formed by the ventral rami of C5–C8 and the T1 spinal nerves, and lower and upper halves of the C4 and T2 spinal nerves.
    • It is interconnected with the lower part of sacral plexus.
    • In addition, the celiac plexus serves the internal organs, and Auerbach's plexus serves the gastrointestinal tract.

  • Cystitis

    • Cystitis is a urinary bladder inflammation that is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract infection.
    • A urinary tract infection (UTI), a bacterial infection that affects the lower urinary tract, is also known as a simple cystitis (a bladder infection).
    • Symptoms from a lower urinary tract infection include painful urination and either frequent urination or the urge to urinate (or both).
    • Pain above the pubic bone, or in the lower back or abdomen
    • Normally found in the humans gastrointestinal tract, Proteus spp. are opportunistic pathogens, which means that they usually do not cause disease.

  • Innate Resistance

    • The flushing action of tears and urine also mechanically expels pathogens, while mucus secreted by the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract serves to trap and entangle microorganisms.
    • The skin and respiratory tract secrete antimicrobial peptides such as the β-defensins.
    • Within the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts, commensal flora serve as biological barriers by competing with pathogenic bacteria for food and space and, in some cases, by changing the conditions in their environment, such as pH or available iron.
    • The human microbiome (or human microbiota) is the aggregate of microorganisms that reside on the surface and in deep layers of skin, in the saliva and oral mucosa, in the conjunctiva, and in the gastrointestinal tracts.
    • Normal flora bacteria can act as opportunistic pathogens at times of lowered immunity.

  • X-Ray Studies of the GI Tract

    • Upper GI series, also upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract radiography, is a radiologic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
    • Upper GI series, also known as upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract radiography, is a radiologic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract .
    • The upper GI tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
    • Describe the process and purpose of taking X-rays of the GI tract

  • Mucosa

    • The mucosa, composed of simple epithelium cells, is the innermost layer of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
    • It is the absorptive and secretory layer of the GI tract.
    • The GI tract is composed of four layers.
    • The mucosae (singular: mucosa) are highly specialized in each organ of the gastrointestinal tract in order to deal with different digestive tract conditions.
    • Describe the structure and function of the mucosa of the GI tract

  • Dietary Fiber

    • Dietary fiber interacts with the contents of the gastrointestinal tract, and it changes how other nutrients and chemicals are absorbed.
    • In addition to lowering the risk of death from heart disease, adequate consumption of fiber-containing foods, especially grains, also appeared to reduce the incidence of infectious and respiratory illnesses.
    • Particularly among males, fiber consumption lowered the risk of cancer-related death.
    • Dietary fiber acts by changing the nature of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract and by changing how other nutrients and chemicals are absorbed.
    • It is fermented by bacteria in the digestive tract.

  • Digestive Systems

    • The digestive system consists of a group of organs that form a closed tube-like structure called the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) or the alimentary canal .
    • For convenience, the GI tract is divided into upper GI tract and lower GI tract.
    • The organs that make up the GI tract include the mouth, the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, and the large intestine.
    • There are also several accessory organs that secrete various enzymes into the GI tract.