Abdomen

Question 1

Aneurysm

Answer 1

a balloon-like swelling of the wall of an artery, vein, or heart; generally the result of a congenital defect in the wall or degenerative disease or infection (example atherosclerosis or syphilis); dissecting aneurysm is longitudinal splitting of the arterial wall from hemorrhage

Question 2

Anorexia

Answer 2

loss of appetite

Question 3

Ascites

Answer 3

abnormal intraperitoneal accumulation of serous fluid

Question 4

Ballottement

Answer 4

a palpation technique used in detecting or examining a floating object in the body

Question 5

Borborygmi

Answer 5

a gurgling, splashing sound heard over the large intestine; caused by passage of flatus through the intestine

Question 6

Cholecystitis

Answer 6

inflammation of the gallbladder

Question 7

Cholelithiasis

Answer 7

stone formation in the gallbladder

Question 8

Cirrhosis

Answer 8

a chronic disease of the liver characterized by fibrosis and alteration of normal liver architecture into structurally abnormal nodules

Question 9

Colic

Answer 9

spasm in any hollow tubular soft organ accompanied by pain

Question 10

Constipation

Answer 10

difficult defecation; infrequent defecation with passage of unduly hard dry fecal material; sluggish action of the bowels. Often this is defined as less than three bowel movements per week

Question 11

Diarrhea

Answer 11

frequent liquid or loose stools lasting less than four weeks in duration

Question 12

Dyschezia

Answer 12

painful or difficult bowel movement

Question 13

Dyspepsia

Answer 13

imperfect digestion. Not a disease in itself but symptomatic of other diseases or disorders. Characterized by vague abdominal discomfort, a sense of fullness after eating, eructation, heartburn, nausea and vomiting, and loss of appetite

Question 14

Dysphagia

Answer 14

difficulty in swallowing

Question 15

Fistula

Answer 15

an abnormal tube like passage from a normal cavity or tube to a free surface or to another cavity. May be congenital due to incomplete closure of parts or may result from abscesses, injuries, or inflammatory processes

Question 16

Gastroesophageal reflux

Answer 16

burning gnawing pain in mid-epigastrium worsens with recumbency

Question 17

Hematemesis

Answer 17

vomiting of blood

Question 18

Hematochezia

Answer 18

passage of stool containing blood

Question 19

Hernia

Answer 19

protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in the muscle wall

Question 20

Icterus

Answer 20

pigmentation of the tissues, membranes, and secretions of the eye with bile pigment

Question 21

Intussusception

Answer 21

prolapse or telescoping of one segment of intestine n into another, causing intestinal obstruction

Question 22

Jaundice

Answer 22

a condition characterized by yellowness of the skin, mucous membranes, and body fluids due to deposition of bile pigment resulting from excess bilirubin in the blood

Question 23

Kehr sign

Answer 23

abdominal pain radiating to the left shoulder, due to peritoneal irritation from blood or other irritants

Question 24

Melena

Answer 24

evacuations resembling tar, due to action of intestinal juices on free blood

Question 25

Peristalsis

Answer 25

the wavelike motion by which the alimentary tract propels its content

Question 26

Pyloric stenosis

Answer 26

narrowing of the pyloric orifice. This may be due to excessive thickening of the circular muscle of the pylorus or hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the mucosa and submucosa

Question 27

Reflux

Answer 27

a return or backward flow

Question 28

Striae

Answer 28

streaks or lines (with a silvery white or purple hue); skin striae result from weakening of the elastic tissue associated with pregnancy, weight gain, rapid growth periods, and high levels of corticosteroids

Question 29

Tympany

Answer 29

a low pitched, resonant, drumlike sound heard while percussing the surface of a large, air containing body space