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