Historical Perspective The surface anatomy of the liver was described as early as 2000 bc by the ancient Babylonians. Even Hippocrates understood and described the seriousness of liver injury. In 1654, Francis Glisson was the first physician to describe the…
The anus comprises a relatively small anatomic region of the gastrointestinal tract, yet it plays a critical role in fecal continence and defecation. Because of its unique anatomy and physiology, the anus can present challenges to diagnosis and treatment. Although…
Acknowledgments: Josè Adolfo Navarro, MD; Silvia Neri, MD; and Alberto Morabito, MD. Embryology of the Colon and Rectum A sound knowledge base of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract embryologic development is important in understanding colon and rectal anatomy and pathophysiology. The…
Appendicitis remains one of the most common diseases faced by the surgeon in practice. It is the most common urgent or emergent general surgical operation performed in the United States and is responsible for as many as 300,000 hospitalizations annually.…
The small intestine is a marvel of complexity and efficiency. The primary role of the small intestine is the digestion and absorption of dietary components after they leave the stomach. This process depends on a multitude of structural, physiologic, endocrine,…
Anatomy Gross Anatomy Divisions The stomach is derived from the tubular embryonic foregut and begins as a dilation during the fifth week of gestation in the caudal portion. The embryonic stomach is invested by two mesenteries: dorsal (which becomes the…
Obesity: The Magnitude of the Problem Until very recently, obesity was not recognized as a disease, which confounded the ability of physicians to be compensated for treatment they delivered and to treat the condition effectively. The American Medical Association (AMA)…
Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a term that describes the loss of blood from along the alimentary canal. GIB is classified by its anatomic location relative to the ligament of Treitz. Upper GIB (UGIB) is defined as being proximal to the…
The term acute abdomen refers to the signs and symptoms of abdominal pain and tenderness. This situation often represents an underlying surgical problem that requires prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment. While the ready availability of diagnostic studies such as computed…
Nearly 1 million hernias are repaired annually in the United States, making hernia repair one of the most common operations performed by general surgeons. Despite the frequency of this procedure, no surgeon has ideal results, and complications such as postoperative…