Treating digestive diseases
Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine concerned with digestive conditions. The practice of gastroenterology concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
The gastrointestinal organs are responsible for the movement of material through the stomach and intestine, the digestion and absorption of nutrients into the body, removal of waste from the system, and the function of the liver as a digestive organ. When one of these areas is not functioning properly, a gastroenterologist may be able to help.