GI System

Question 1

What are the areas of the abdomen?

Answer 1

right upper quadrant (RUQ), Left upper quadrant (LUQ), Epigastrium (upper central region of the abdomen), Right lower quadrant (RLQ), and Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

Question 2

What is abdominal distention?

Answer 2

swelling or enlargement of the abdomen

Question 3

What is ascites?

Answer 3

accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity

Question 4

What are bowel sounds?

Answer 4

a PEx finding; may be diminished or hyperactive

Question 5

What is C-difficile (C-diff)?

Answer 5

A bacteria in the intestines that causes diarrhea and GI problems, usually a side effect of antibiotic use

Question 6

What is choledocholithiasis?

Answer 6

gallstones in the common bile duct

Question 7

What is cirrhosis?

Answer 7

chronic degenerative liver disease

Question 8

What is Crohn’s disease?

Answer 8

a form of inflammatory bowel disease

Question 9

What is a decreased rectal tone PEx used for ?

Answer 9

assessment of nerve dysfunction

Question 10

What is diverticulosis?

Answer 10

small abnormal pouches in the intestinal wall

Question 11

What is diverticulitis?

Answer 11

inflammation and infection w in the diverticula

Question 12

What is dyspepsia?

Answer 12

indigestion

Question 13

What is dysphagia?

Answer 13

phag/o- to eat

difficulty swallowing

Question 14

What is emesis?

Answer 14

vomiting

Question 15

What is gastroenteritis?

Answer 15

stomach and intestines are irritated and inflamed (i.e. stomach flu)

Question 16

What is gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Answer 16

GERD; a condition in which contents of the stomach flow back into the esophagus; known as reflux

Question 17

What is guarding?

Answer 17

contraction of the abdominal muscles and discomfort when pressure is applied to the abdomen

Question 18

What is a gastrointestinal (GI) bleed?

Answer 18

any bleeding in the gi tract, usually classified as “upper” or “lower”

Question 19

What is a GUAIAC test?

Answer 19

a diagnostic test looking for occult blood in the stool. done after taking a small stool sample during a rectal exam

Question 20

What is hepatomegaly?

Answer 20

an enlarged liver

Question 21

What is hepatitis?

Answer 21

inflammation of the liver

Question 22

What is hematemesis?

Answer 22

vomiting of blood

Question 23

What is hematochezia?

Answer 23

passage of bright red blood in the stool

Question 24

What are hemorrhoids?

Answer 24

painful, swollen veins in the anus or rectum; may be internal or external and cause rectal bleeding

Question 25

What is an ileus?

Answer 25

decreased motor activity of the GI tract

Question 26

What is IBS?

Answer 26

a common disorder that affects the LARGE intestine (colon). commonly causing cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation

Question 27

What is jaundice?

Answer 27

yellow coloration of the skin/ mucus membranes from high levels of bilirubin in the blood stream

Question 28

What are LFT's?

Answer 28

liver function tests; measurements of liver enzymes and other substances in the blood; enzyme levels INCREASE when the liver is damaged

Question 29

What is McBurney's point tenderness?

Answer 29

a site of extreme sensitivity in acute appendicitis in the RLQ

Question 30

What is melena?

Answer 30

black "tarry" color stool; a typical sign of upper GI bleeding

Question 31

What is Murphy's sign?

Answer 31

a test looking for acute cholecystitis where there is increased tenderness in the RUQ

Question 32

What is organomegaly?

Answer 32

abnormal enlargement of an organ

Question 33

What is pancreatitis?

Answer 33

inflammation of the pancreas

Question 34

What is the peritoneum?

Answer 34

serous membrane that forms the abdominal cavity lining

Question 35

What is peritoneal dialysis?

Answer 35

a way to remove waste products from your blood when your kidneys can no longer function; can be done at home

Question 36

What is rebound?

Answer 36

an increase in severe pain and discomfort when pressure is abruptly relieved from a localized region of the abdomen

Question 37

What does rigid mean?

Answer 37

hardness or stiffness of the abdomen

Question 38

What is a small bowel obstruction (SBO)?

Answer 38

the inability of the intestinal tract to allow for regular passage of food and bowel contents. May be partial or complete

Question 39

What is splenomegaly?

Answer 39

abnormal enlargement of the spleen

Question 40

What is a colonoscopy?

Answer 40

internal examination of the large intestines and rectum

Question 41

What is an upper endoscopy?

Answer 41

internal examination of the upper GI tract including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, using a small camera

Question 42

What is a HIDA scan?

Answer 42

imaging used to diagnose problems in the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts

Question 43

What is an ERCP?

Answer 43

procedure that combines an upper endoscopy and X-rays to treat problems of the bile and pancreatic ducts