GI Tract Full Form

What is the full form of GI Tract?

The gastrointestinal tract is referred to as the GI tract. The term "Gastrointestinal Tract" (GI tract, "digestive tract," or "alimentary canal").It refers to the route taken by the digestive system from the mouth to the anus. All of the major digestive organs, such as the oesophagus, stomach, and intestines, are located within the GI tract in both humans and other animals. Food that is consumed by mouth is broken down during digestion to release nutrients and absorb energy, and the leftover waste is then expelled at the anus as faeces. An adjective describing the stomach and intestines is "gastrointestinal."

The gastrointestinal tract and the additional digestive organs (the tongue, salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder) make up the entire human digestive system. In order to reflect the embryological origin of each segment, the tract can also be divided into the foregut, midgut, and hindgut.

Human Gastrointestinal Tract Anatomy

In humans, the gastrointestinal tract extends from the mouth to the stomach, oesophagus, and small and large intestines. The GI tract measures about 9 metres long in length.

There are numerous supporting organs, such as the liver and pancreas which aids in the digestion of food by secreting enzymes. Two sections of the human GI tract can be distinguished, namely:

• Upper GI tract

• Lower GI tract

Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Organs that make up the upper GI includes Mouth , Pharynx, Oesophagus and Stomach :

Mouth

Along with the soft palate, the floor of the mouth, and the underside of the tongue, it also includes the teeth, tongue, and buccal mucous membranes, which house the ends of the salivary glands. The muscles of the tongue, cheeks, and teeth move constantly against the teeth and lower jaw to chew food. This is how the mouth works.

Pharynx

The pharynx is part of the respiratory and digestive systems that are enclosed in the neck. It prevents food from getting into the lungs and trachea.

Oesophagus

It is a muscular organ that carries food to the stomach to fulfil its purpose. The act of swallowing becomes involuntary and is controlled by the oesophagus once the chewed food enters the oesophagus from the mouth.

Stomach

Most of the digestive process happens here. The stomach is a J-shaped bag-like organ that temporarily stores food, digests it, combines it with other digestive fluids and enzymes, and then moves it onto the small intestine.

Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

The organs make up the lower GI are small and large intestine:

Small Intestine

The majority of nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine, a 6-metre-long, thin, coiled tube. In the small intestine, food is combined with pancreatic and liver enzymes. By absorbing nutrients from food and transferring them to the bloodstream, which then transports them to the rest of the body, the surfaces of the small intestine perform their function.

Large Intestine

A thick, tubular organ that wraps around the small intestine is the large intestine, also referred to as the colon. Processing waste products and replenishing the system with any remaining nutrients and water are its main duties. After that, the body's remaining waste is delivered to the rectum and expelled as a stool.

Development of GI Tract

The gut is a structure that evolved from endotherms. Around the sixteenth day of human development, the embryo starts to fold ventrally in two directions: the sides fold in on each other, and the head and tail fold toward one another (the ventral surface of the embryo becomes concave). As a result, the primitive gut starts to develop when a portion of the yolk sac, an endoderm-lined structure in contact with the ventral aspect of the embryo, is pinched off. The vitelline duct still connects the yolk sac to the gut tube. It is known as Meckel's diverticulum when this structure does not regress normally during development.

The primitive gut gradually divides into three segments during foetal life: the foregut, midgut, and hindgut. Although this terminology is frequently used to refer to portions of the primitive gut, it is also frequently used to refer to areas of the definitive gut.

Each segment of the gut is further defined, and later development gives rise to particular gut and gut-related structures. The primitive gut's cells swell or dilate to form organs like the stomach and colon, which are derived from the gut itself. Contrarily, gut-related derivatives, or those parts of the body that derive from the primitive gut but are not actually parts of the gut, are typically formed as outgrowths of the primitive gut. Throughout development, the blood vessels supplying these structures don't change.

Gastrointestinal Tract Infection

Viruses, bacteria, and parasites that cause gastroenteritis and gastrointestinal tract inflammation can result in gastrointestinal infections. These have the potential to infect the small intestine and the stomach.

These infections can be brought on by adenovirus, campylobacter, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and other microorganisms.

Gastrointestinal Tract Diseases

Following are a few examples of gastrointestinal tract diseases:

Haemorrhoids

A swollen blood vessel lines the opening of the anus. Due to the strenuous movement of the bowel, they are caused by excess pressure.

Constipation

Constipation is the medical term for irregular or incomplete bowel movements. This is brought on by an insufficient intake of water and dietary fibre in the diet.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

In this condition, the colon muscle contracts more frequently than it would in a healthy person. Bloating, cramping, diarrhoea, and other symptoms are brought on by it.

Colon Cancer

Older people are more susceptible to colon cancer, which starts in the large intestine. Small, non-cancerous lumps are where it starts. Cancer develops gradually from these clumps. Treatment options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.