Veterinary Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnosis-II

INTRODUCTION- DIGESTIVE DISORDERS

Digestive Disorders GastroIntestinal Diseases

• When food is taken the body breaks food down to a form it can use to build and nourish cells and provide energy.This process is called Digestion.
• The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract—a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus—and other organs that help the body break down and absorb food.
• Organs that make up the digestive tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine—also called the colon—rectum, and anus.
• Inside these hollow organs is a lining called the mucosa.
• In the mouth, stomach, and small intestine, the mucosa contains tiny glands that produce juices to help digest food.
• The digestive tract also contains a layer of smooth muscle that helps break down food and move it along the tract.
• Two “solid” digestive organs, the liver and the pancreas, produce digestive juices that reach the intestine through small tubes called ducts.
• The gallbladder stores the liver’s digestive juices until they are needed in the intestine.
• Parts of the nervous and circulatory systems also play major roles in the digestive system.
• There are many types of digestive disorders.
• The symptoms vary widely depending on the problem.
• In general, the patient should see a doctor if he has
  • Blood in your stool.
  • Changes in bowel habits.
  • Severe abdominal pain.
  • Unintentional weight loss.Heartburn not relieved by antacids.