orange-yellow pigment formed during destruction of erythrocytes that is taken up by liver cells to later be excreted in feces (i.e. destroyed red blood cells)
bilirubin
chewed food ready to be swallowed, but not digested
bolus
the type of gland that secrets its products through excretory ducts to the surface of an organ or tissue or into a vessel
exocrine
circular band of muscle fibers that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening of the body
sphincter
organic compound, a true fat, made from one glycerol and three fatty acids
triglycerides
another name for the mouth
oral cavity
cheeks
bucca
gums in the mouth
gingiva
a fancy word for swallowing
deglutition
the technical term for taste buds
papillae
throat
pharynx
a small flap of cartilage that covers the trachea during swallowing
epiglottis
sphincter at the top of the stomach that constrict once food has passed into the stomach
lower esophageal sphincter
the large central portion of the stomach
body (of the stomach)
the upper portion of the stomach
fundus
the funnel-shaped end portion of the stomach where most of digestion takes place
pylorus
folds in the stomach lining that gradually unfold as the stomach fills; also houses HCl glands
rugae
bolus that’s been mixed with stomach digestive juices
chyme
ring of fibrous muscle that separates the lower part of the stomach from the small intestine
pyloric sphincter
coordinated, rhythmic muscle contractions that move matter through the digestive tract
peristaltis
the uppermost part of the small intestines (about 10 inches long)
duodenum
middle part of the small intestine; measures about 8 feet long
jejunum
final part of the small intestine before it continues to the large intestine; is about 12 feet long
ileum
microscopic fingerlike projections in the intestine that absorb nutrients
villi
muscle at the end of the small intestine that allows undigested and absorbed material from the small intestine to move to the large intestine
ileocecal valve
the first 2 or 3 inches of the large intestine
cecum
extends from the cecum to the lower border of the liver and turns abruptly to form the hepatic flexure
ascending colon
structure between the ascending colon and the transverse colon
hepatic flexure
area of the large intestine that curves around the spleen and into the descending colon
splenic flexure
area of the large intestine where the transverse colon moves downward
descending colon
area of the large intestine that connects to the rectum
sigmoid colon
final portion of the colon that connects to the anus
rectum
gland that secrets directly into the bloodstream
endocrine
pathway that the gallbladder secretes bile through into the duodenum
common bile duct
composed of two ducts (left and right) that allow bile to be drained from the liver
hepatic duct
duct that merges with the hepatic duct
cystic duct
mouth (combining form)
or/o
mouth (combining form)
stomat/o
tongue (combining form)
gloss/o
tongue (combining form)
lingu/o
check (combining form)
bucc/o
lip (combining form)
cheil/o
lip (combining form)
labi/o
teeth (combining form)
dent/o
teeth (combining form)
odont/o
gums (combining form)
gingiv/o
saliva, salivary gland (combining form)
sial/o
esophagus (combining form)
esophag/o
pharynx (combining form)
pharyng/o
stomach (combining form)
gastr/o
pylorus (combining form)
pylor/o
duodenum, first part of the small intestine (combining form)
duoden/o
intestine (combining form)
enter/o
jejunum, second part of the small intestine (combining form)
jejun/o
ileum, third part of the small intestine (combining form)
ile/o
appendix (combining form)
append/o
appendix (combining form)
appendic/o
colon (combining form)
col/o
colon (combining form)
colon/o
sigmoid colon (combining form)
sigmoid/o
rectum (combining form)
rect/o
anus, rectum (combining form)
proct/o
anus (combining form)
an/o
liver (combining form)
hepat/o
pancreas (combining form)
pancreat/o
bile vessel (combining form)
cholangi/o
bile, gall (combining form)
chol/e
gallbladder (combining form)
cholecyst/o
bile duct
choledoch/o
through, across (prefix)
dia-
around (prefix)
peri-
under, below (prefix)
sub-
a disease consisting of ulcers on mucous membranes in the stomach, duodenum, and occasionally in the lower esophagus
Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)
chronic inflammatory disease of the mucous membranes of the colon, typically taking place in the rectum or sigmoid colon and extending upward (sometimes into the entire colon). Symptoms include watery, bloody diarrhea
Ulcerative Colitis
abnormal condition when a piece of intestine protrudes through the muscle wall and has its bloodflow cut off through pressure; gangrene can result
strangulated hernia
surgical repair of a hernia
hernioplasty
suturing up of a hernia
herniorrhaphy
occurs when intestinal contents are prevented from moving forward due to an obstacle or barrier that blocks the lumen
(mechanical) intestinal obstruction
occurs when peristalsis fails to move digestive content through the intestines
(nonmechanical) intestinal obstruction
intestinal twisting
volvolus
inflammatory condition of the liver, this type is typically infectious and transmitted orally, sexually, and through body fluid contact
hepatitis A
inflammatory condition of the liver, this type is typically transmitted via body fluid or sexual contact. There is a vaccine available.
hepatitis B
inflammatory condition of the liver, this type is typically transmitted via body fluid or sexual contact. There is no cure.
hepatitis C
small, blisterlike pockets develop in the innermost lining of the large intestine and may balloon through the intestinal wall. Symptoms include abdominal pain, constipation, or sometimes bloody diarrhea
diverticulosis
cancerous glandular tumor generally found in the mucosal lining of the stomach or intestines
gastric adenocarcenoma
generic term for cancer of the GI tract
Colorectal cancer
loss of appetite
anorexia
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, most commonly as a result of chronic liver disease
ascites
stomach growling
borborygmus
physical wasting away typically associated with AIDS and cancer patients
cachexia
gallstones in the gallblader or bile duct
cholelithiasis
scarring and dysfunction of the liver due to chronic liver disease
cirrhosis
spasm in any hollow or tubular soft organ, especially in the colon, accompanied by pain
colic
form of inflammatory bowel disease, usually of the ileum but can be of any part of the intestinal tract. Characterized by inflammatory pattern and cramping, diarrhea, and weight loss
Chron disease
inflammation of the intestine, especially the colon, caused by ingesting contaminated water
dysentery
inability or trouble swallowing
dysphagia
burping
eructation
fecal concretion; fecal matter compressed into a hard stone
fecalith
farting
flatus
backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus due to a malfunction of the sphincter muscle at the esophagus
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
vomiting of blood
hematemesis
symptom complex marked by abdominal pain and altered bowel function; contributing factors include anxiety and stress
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
passage of dark colored, tarry stools due to the presence of blood altered by digestive juices
melena
severe constipation, sometimes caused by internal obstruction
obstipation
formation of white spots or patches on the mucous membranes of the lips, cheek, or tongue caused by irritation
oral leukoplakia
progressive, wavelike movements of the hollow tubes of the body meant to move contents forward
peristalsis
narrowing of the pyloric sphincter, causes obstruction that blocks the flow of food into the small intestine
pyloric stenosis
passage of fat in large amounts in the feces due to failure to digest and absorb it
steatorrhea
insertion of nasogastric tube through the nose into the stomach for a variety of reasons (food, medication, etc)
nasogastric intubation
surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments; can be ileorectal or intestinal
anastomosis
group of procedures meant to treat morbid obesity
bariatric surgery
procedure for crushing a stone and removing its fragments, either surgically or through ultrasonic waves
lithotripsy
use of shock waves specifically to noninvasively break up stones in the gall bladder or biliary ducts
extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy
incision of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the pylorus; used to treat pyloric stenosis
pyloromyotomy
panel of blood tests to identify which hepatitis virus a patient has
hepatitis panel
measurement of the level of bilirubin in the blood
serum bilirubin
test that applies a tree extract to fecal matter to detect hidden blood
stool guaiac
imaging technique achieved by rotating an x-ray emitter around the area to be scanned and measuring the intensity of transmitted rays from different angles
computed tomography (CT scan)
barium enema followed by radiographic images of the rectum and colon
lower gastrointestinal series
radiographic images taken of the gallblader after administration of contrast material, typically containing iodine
oral cholecystography (OCG)
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to visualize the biliary and pancreatic ducts
magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
radiologic examination of salivary glands and ducts
sialography
barium administration followed by radiographic images of the small intestine, sometimes called a barium swallow
upper gastrointestinal series
nausea control medication
antiemetics
Barium (abbreviation)
Ba (abbreviation)
barium enema (abbreviation)
BaE
computed tomography (abbreviation)
CT
esophagogastroduodenoscopy (abbreviation)
EGD (abbreviation)
extracorporeal shock wave
ESWL
endoscopic ultrasonography (x-ray studies) (abbreviation)
EUS
gastroesophageal reflux disease (abbreviation)
GERD
hepatitis A virus (abbreviation)
HAV
hepatitis B virus (abbreviation)
HBV
hepatitis C virus (abbreviation)
HCV
liver function test (abbreviation)
LFT
magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (abbreviation)
MRCP
nasogastric (abbreviation)
NG
oral cholecystography (abbreviation)
OCG
peptic ulcer disease (abbreviation)
PUD
rule out (abbreviation)
R/O
upper gastrointestinal tract (abbreviation)
UGIS
ultrasound (abbreviation)
US
