Digestive Diseases (General)

Function of the Digestive Tract

The digestive tract serves two major functions: the absorption of nutrients and the elimination of waste. Each anatomical section of the tract is designed to process the food we eat and prepare it for either energy the body can use or disposal. Recapping the movement of food through the digestive tract is essential in understanding dysfunction of this organ system. First, the mouth houses certain enzymes in saliva that begin to break down food and then the food is pushed through the esophagus and into the stomach. It is in the stomach where food is further broken down by the highly acidic stomach contents. Next, digestion continues in the small intestine where the majority of nutrients are absorbed for the body's use. It is also in the small intestine where substances from the gallbladder, such as bile, and substances from the pancreas are added. Bile helps the absorption of digested fats. Finally, once what is left of the food is in the large intestine, water is pulled out of the stool, and thus the stool becomes more concentrated. Bacteria are also present in the large intestine and help to further ferment and break down the left over food particles. Stool is then expelled through the colon. The motility of digestion is largely caused by involuntary stimulation from our nervous systems.

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is any pain that is felt between the chest and the groin. The causes of this pain are nearly endless and encompass problems associated with any digestive organ (those listed above), the abdominal wall, the spine, female reproductive organs, or organs of the urinary tract, such as the kidneys or bladder. Different types of abdominal pain result depending on what organ or body part is affected. For example, when an internal organ causes the pain, a dull vague pain usually results. However, if the cause of the pain is more externalized, it commonly results in a sharper, more precise or clear-cut pain. Abdominal pain can also be broken down into acute pain, usually occurring suddenly and needing emergent intervention, and chronic pain, which is pain that occurs over a long period of time. The reason for these differences has to do with the distribution of different branches of our nervous system. Due to the numerous causes of abdominal pain, just a few of the causes will be mentioned. These different causes will be broken down into serious illnesses causing abdominal pain and then followed by other common diseases.

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