Question

1. What organs are included in the upper digestive system? Mention and explain at least three other conditions of the upper digestive system that may be a cause of digestive bleeding.
2. What organs are included in the lower digestive system? What are some causes of lower digestive system hemorrhages, and how do you differentiate them from upper digestive system hemorrhages?

Answer 1

The organs included in upper digestive system are mouth, esophagus, stomach

The causes of upper digestive system bleed are

1. Peptic ulcer disease: It is an ulcer which develops in the lining of esophagus and stomach. It damages the lining which cause slow bleeding
2. Gastroduodenal erosion: It occurs when erosion takes place in stomach and duodenum due to inflammation
3. Esophagitis: Due to the acid backs up to the esophagus, the esophagus will get inflamed and starts to bleed

The parts of lower digestive system are small intestine (duodenum, jejunum,,ileum), large intestine (ascending colon, transverse colon, decending colon), rectum and anu$

The causes of lower digestive system bleeding are

1. Diverticulitis: Due to the infection or inflammation of one or more small pouches of the digestive system especially colon bleeding may occur
2. Ischimic colitis: It is a inflammatory condition of large intestine due to insufficient blood supply to colon
3. Haemorrhoids: Hemorrhoid bleeding can occur when the swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anu$ gets ruptured

Differentiation between upper and lower digestive system bleeding:

• In upper digestive system bleeding patient experience melena ( black tarry stools), fresh red blood vomiting, heart burn and epigastric pain
• In lower digestive system bleeding patient may experience fresh blood in stools, bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramps or pain,