upper gastrointestinal tract

(noun)

This tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Related Terms

Examples of upper gastrointestinal tract in the following topics:

  • 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 .
    • When the patient needs to undertake an upper GI, he or she may be asked to fast on the previous day.
    • The upper GI tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
    • Describe the process and purpose of taking X-rays of the GI tract

  • 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.

  • Epsilonproteobacteria

    • Most of the known species inhabit the digestive tract of animals and serve as symbionts (Wolinella spp. in cows) or pathogens (Helicobacter spp. in the stomach, Campylobacter spp. in the duodenum).
    • Some species have been found living in the lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract, as well as the liver of mammals and some birds.
    • Campylobacter bacteria are the number-one cause of food-related gastrointestinal illness in the United States.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Plexuses

    • The cervical plexus is formed by the ventral rami of the upper four cervical nerves and the upper part of fifth cervical ventral ramus.
    • 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.
    • In addition, the celiac plexus serves the internal organs, and Auerbach's plexus serves the gastrointestinal tract.
    • Cervical (C5–C8) and thoracic (T1) nerves comprise the brachial plexus, which is a nerve plexus that provides sensory and motor function to the shoulders and upper limbs.

  • 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

  • Anatomy of the Liver

    • It is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, resting just below the diaphragm.
    • The hepatic artery carries blood from the aorta to the liver, whereas the portal vein carries blood containing the digested nutrients from the entire gastrointestinal tract, and also from the spleen and pancreas to the liver.

  • Gastrointestinal Reflex Pathways

    • The digestive system functions via a system of long reflexes, short reflexes, and extrinsic reflexes from gastrointestinal (GI) peptides working together.
    • The gastrocolic reflex is the physiological reflex controlling the motility, or peristalsis, of the gastrointestinal tract.
    • The gastroileal reflex is a third type of gastrointestinal reflex.
    • They act on a variety of tissues including the brain, digestive accessory organs, and the GI tract.
    • The gastrocolic reflex is one of a number of physiological reflexes controlling the motility, or peristalsis, of the gastrointestinal tract.