Upper GI and Small Bowel Series
Alternate Names : Barium Swallow X-Ray, GI Series, Upper GI Series
Pictures & Images
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Barium Ingestion
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An upper GI series is performed to examine the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. The purpose of the test is to detect abnormalities in those areas.
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Stomach Ulcer, X-Ray
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This is an example of a procedure called an upper GI series. The person swallows a substance called barium which allows for illumination of the organs in question. In this case, an ulceration is present in the stomach, seen on the right of the screen. This method is a means of diagnosing stomach ulcers as well as other anomalies along the upper gastrointestinal tract.
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Small Intestine
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The small intestine is the portion of the digestive system most responsible for absorption of nutrients from food into the bloodstream. The pyloric sphincter governs the passage of partly digested food from the stomach into the duodenum. This short first portion of the small intestine is followed by the jejunum and the ileum. The ileocecal valve of the ileum passes digested material into the large intestine.
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