Gastroduodenitis is inflammation of which organs?

• A. Stomach and duodenum
• B. Stomach and pancreas
• C. Duodenum and ileum
• D. Stomach only

Answer: (A)

Gastroduodenitis means inflammation of two connected organs: the stomach and the duodenum. The word parts explain this clearly: gastro- refers to the stomach, duodeno- to the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine right after the stomach), and -itis indicates inflammation. So when both stomach and duodenum are inflamed, the term used is gastroduodenitis. If only the stomach were inflamed, it would be gastritis, and if only the duodenum were inflamed, it would be duodenitis. The pancreas or ileum aren’t described by this term.