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Oxford Textbook of Medicine$
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Oxford Textbook of Medicine (5 ed.)

Edited by David A. Warrell, Timothy M. Cox, John D. Firth

Online access to the Oxford Textbook of Medicine in low and middle income countries is available through the World Health Organization-led HINARI Access to Research in Health programme. 

Latest update

The November 2012 update sees updates to over 70 chapters, focusing on Neurology and Gastroenterology. This update also incorporates a selection of 29 Case Histories taken from related titles in the Oxford Case Histories series, linked to from related chapters. Each case includes several questions followed by detailed answers and discussion to enhance diagnostic and clinical understanding.

Neurology updates include substantial updates to key chapters and new material on a wide range of topics including spinal cord injury, autonomic nervous system disorders, and inherited neurodegenerative diseases. 

Gastroenterology updates include extensive revisions of key chapters on liver failure and acute pancreatitis and new material on a wide range of matters, ranging from the common to the rare: including surgical treatments for colonic diverticular disease, antibody tests for immune disorders, and a revised treatment algorithm for small bowel bacterial overgrowth.

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Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Print Publication Date:
May 2010
Print ISBN-13:
9780199204854
Published to Oxford Medicine:
May 2012
DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199204854.001.1

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Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Contents

Structure and function of the gut

Chapter:
Structure and function of the gut
Author(s):

D.G. Thompson

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199204854.003.1501

November 28, 2012: This chapter has been re-evaluated and remains up-to-date. No changes have been necessary.

The gastrointestinal tract is a hollow tube stretching from the oral cavity through the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum to the anal sphincter. Its function is the transport, digestion, and elimination of ingested material to supply nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes that are essential for life, together with the protection of the rest of the body from injurious or allergenic material. The stomach acts as a storage, sterilizing, and digestive tank; the small intestine is the major site of digestion and absorption; the colon’s function is to salvage water and electrolyte from the small intestinal effluent; and the rectum provides a storage function, enabling the elimination of colonic residue (defecation) to be restricted to times of personal convenience.

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