Digestive SystemTerminology

Allyson LofgrenBiology 120Professor AbdullahMarch 7, 2011

Serum Bilirubin What is bilirubin?

• Bilirubin is the main brown/yellow pigmentin bile.

• It is created when heme, the pigment thatmakes red blood cells red, breaks down inolder cells.

• It moves into the liver where it undergoesmany processes to make it more watersoluble.

What does serum bilirubintell us?

• Serum bilirubin is a test given to mostbabies.

• It indicates how much of the waste productbilirubin is in the baby’s blood.

• Elevated bilirubin indicates that red blood cells arebeing destroyed rapidly or that bilirubin is not beingexcreted as quickly as it should be

• It is a good test of the blood, gallbladderand liver functions as it indicates the liver’sability to

• take up bilirubin• process bilirubin• secrete bilirubin into the bile

How is a Serum Bilirubintest taken?

• Generally, a phlebotomist takes blood from thebaby's heel tissue instead of a vein.

• A baby’s veins are easily damaged because they are so smalland fragile. It is much safer to take tissue punctures.

• The blood is drawn into a small test tube about 2inches long that is stoppered at each end when full.

• The tube is spun in a centrifuge to separate theserum from the red blood cells.

• Spectrophotometry (a technique that measures theamount of ultraviolet light absorbed by a substance)is used to measure the amount of bilirubin in a theserum.

LavageWhat is lavage?

• Lavage is the irrigation or washing out of anorgan.

• It is often called stomach pumping. It emptiesthe stomach of dangerous substances quicklyso the body does not absorb large quantities.• It removes poisons that are dangerous to vomit like acids

or bleach.• It is also used for those who have overdosed on drugs or

alcohol.

How is lavage performed?

• The patient lies on his or her left side, with thehead lowered.

• A lubricated tube is inserted through the mouth,down the esophagus, and into the stomach.

• The poison, drugs and/or alcohol are suctionedout through the tube.

• The stomach is washed out with lukewarm waterand/or salt water until the water comes out clear.

• Sometimes the patient is given charcoal after thestomach is pumped because it absorbs drugs,alcohol or poisons that may still be in the stomach.

AnastomosisWhat is anastomosis?

• An anastomosis is a surgicalconnection between twostructures.• It is usually made between tubular

structures like blood vessels or partsof the intestine.

How is an AnastomosisPerformed?

• An example of a common digestiveanastomosis surgery is a bowel resection.• The blocked portion is removed and the two

sections are stitched back together.• In some cases, the sections cannot be

reconnected. This is called a colostomy.• The surgeon will bring the cut intestine through the

skin.• The contents are emptied into an external bag.

CachexiaWhat is cachexia?

• Cachexia is general weight loss andwasting that occurs during chronicdiseases like cancer.

• As cancer progresses, the patient’sbasal metabolic rate usually drops.

• Cachexia is often caused by tumors in the lungs,pancreas, and upper gastrointestinal tract.

• Cachexia is occasionally caused by breast canceror lower gastrointestinal cancer.

Works Cited• Golonka, MHP, Debby; “Digestive Disorders Health Center: Bilirubin”, 05/27/08,

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/bilirubin-15434• Lo, PhD, DABCC, FACB, Stanley F.; “Bilirubin: the Test”, 11/24/10, American Association for

Clinical Chemistry, http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/bilirubin/test.html• Boggs, MD, William M.; “Stomach Pumping (Gastric Lavage, Gastric Suctioning)”, 07/05/01,

Healthopedia.com, http://www.healthopedia.com/stomach-pumping/• Vorvick, MD, Linda J.; “Anastomosis”, 08/08/09, MedlinePlus,

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002231.htm,• Bhimji, MD, PhD, Shabir; “Intestinal obstruction repair”, 05/17/10, Medline Plus,

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002927.htm• Fremgen, Bonnie F. and Frucht, Suzanne S. “Glossary: Cachexia” Medical Terminology: a

Living Language. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. 547. Print• Staff writers for the National Cancer Institute, “Nutrition in Cancer Care - Tumor-Induced

Effects on Nutritional Status”,08/02/10, WebMD,http://www.webmd.com/cancer/tc/ncicdr0000276584-tumor-induced-effects-on-nutritional-status