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Chemical formulas provide a compact way to represent substances, elements and compounds. A formula tells you which elements are present and how their atoms or ions combine. For example, H₂O contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, while CO₂ contains one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.

Learning the most important chemical formu...

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is an umbrella term for chronic conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Its two main forms are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both move through periods of active symptoms, called flares, and quieter periods, called remiss...

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach. The pancreas supports digestion and blood glucose control. It releases digestive enzymes into the small intestine and produces hormones such as insulin and glucagon. Pancreatitis develops when pancreatic enzymes become active too early and begin damaging pancreatic tissue, a pr...

Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, a small organ located beneath the liver. The condition often develops when a gallstone blocks the cystic duct, preventing bile from leaving the gallbladder. Trapped bile increases pressure inside the organ, irritates its wall and may lead to swelling, reduced blood flow and infection.

The most common sym...

A GI system assessment, also called a gastrointestinal or abdominal assessment, is a structured examination used to evaluate the digestive system and identify signs of gastrointestinal disease. Nurses and other healthcare professionals use the assessment to gather information about appetite, swallowing, bowel habits, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, distention, bowel sounds,...