Gastroenterology Reference Libraries

The small intestine is the part of the digestive tract that follows the stomach and is followed by the large intestine. Formation and Orientation The small intestine is on average between 22 feet 6 inches and 24 feet 4 inches. It is composed of three distinct structural parts; the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. The duodenum is the part of the intestine where most chemical...

The stomach is the hollow organ that helps along digestion after mastication (chewing). It is the next step after the esophagus and before the small intestines. Formation and Orientation The stomach is composed of four parts. The cardia is the first part of the stomach in the digestive tract. It is the part of the stomach that allows the food to empty from the esophagus. The most northern...

The esophagogastroduodenoscopy is a medical diagnostic procedure used in internal medicine to view the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. This non-invasive procedure is used for many complaints and requires little to no time for recovery from the procedure. Reasons for the Procedure Patients present to their physician with physical complaints. For example, a patient may come into...

The Esophagus is an organ which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels to the stomach via peristalsis -- a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles that propagate in a wave downward. The word esophagus is derived from the Greek...

Paneth Cells are one of four principal cell types found in the epithelium of the small intestine; the other three are the goblet cell, enterocyte, and enteroendocrine cell. Paneth cells may also be found in the cecum and appendix, although sporadically. These cells are identifiable microscopically by their location just below the intestinal stem cells in the intestinal glands. and the large...

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that can inhabit various areas of the stomach, particularly the antrum. It causes low-level inflammation of the stomach lining and is linked to gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. Out of those infected, 80%, are asymptomatic. It was initially named Campyloacter pyloridis and then renamed C. pylori to correct the Latin grammar...

Campylobacter jejuni is a species of curved, helical shaped, non-spore forming, Gram-negative microaerophilic, bacteria commonly found in animal feces. It is one of the most common causes of human gastroenteritis in the world. This food poisoning can be severely debilitating but rarely life-threatening. It has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome which generally develops two to three...

Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea among infants and young children and is one of several viruses that cause the stomach flu. It is in the family Reoviridae and is a genus of double-stranded RNA. Most children have been infected by the age of five. Each infection builds on previous immunity and thus subsequent infections are less severe and adults are rarely affected. The fives...

Norovirus is an RNA virus that causes approximately 90% of epidemic non-bacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world. It may also be responsible for 50% of all foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the U.S. It can affect people of all ages and is transmitted by food or water that is contaminated, by person-to-person contact, and through aerosolization of the virus and subsequent...

Hepatitis A, caused by hepatitis A virus, is an acute infectious disease of the liver that is transmitted person to person by ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infectious person. Millions of people are believed to become infected with HAV every year. The incubation period is two to six weeks and on average is 28 days. In less developed countries the HAV...