click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Orange Module
GI system rev. defs.
Term | Definition |
---|---|
small intestine | a continuation of the GI tract responsible for absorption. Consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum |
epiglottis | a flap of tissue covering the trachea, which prevents food and liquids from entering the airway |
sigmoid colon | a flexure of the colon which joins the descending colon and the rectum |
cholelith | a gallstone |
ulcer | a lesion of the skin or mucous membrane which frequently develops in the duodenum or stomach |
esophagus | a muscular canal which extends from the pharynx to the stomach |
stomach | a sac-like structure in the abdominal cavity, responsible for digestion of food |
occult blood | a test in which stool samples are collected to determine gastrointestinal bleeding |
ascites | abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, most commonly as a result of chronic liver disease |
hernia | abnormal protrusion of an organ or tissue through the structures that normally contain it |
achlorhydric | absence of hydrochloric acid in the stomach |
colon | also called the large intestine; it is divided into four portions and is responsible for absorption and elimination |
stoma | an artificial opening, in this case, one from the bowel through the abdominal wall |
bulimia | an eating disorder characterized by binge eating, purging, and vigorous exercise |
gallbladder | an organ below the liver which stores and empties bile through its ducts into the small intestine |
pancreas | an organ which uses ducts to provide exocrine secretions to the duodenum to aid in digestion |
esophagojejunostomy | anastomosis of the esophagus and jejunum |
gastroesophageal reflux disease | backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus due to a malfunction of the sphincter muscle at the inferior portion of the esophagus |
regurgitation | backward flowing, as in the return of solids or fluids to the mouth from the stomach |
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass | bariatric surgery that involves stapling stomach to decrease size and shortening the jejunum and connecting it to stomach to form Y configuration, which decreases pathway of food through intestine, thus reducing absorption of calories and fats |
flatus | gas in the GI tract; expelling of air from a body orifice, especially the anus |
exocrine | gland that secretes its products though excretory ducts to the surface of an organ or tissue or into a vessel |
liver function tests | group of blood tests that evaluate liver injury, liver function, and conditions often associated with the biliary tract |
bariatric surgery | group of procedures that treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight as fatty tissue, and the resultant health problems |
computed tomography | 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 |
dysphagia | inability or difficulty in swallowing; also called aphagia |
pyloromyotomy | incision of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the pylorus, which is used to treat hypertrophic pyloric stenosis |
ulcerative colitis | inflammation and ulceration of the innermost lining of the colon |
diverticulitis | inflammation of a sac-like bulge that may develop in the wall of the large intestine |
appendicitis | inflammation of the appendix, usually due to obstruction or infection |
dysentery | inflammation of the intestine, especially the colon,that may be caused by ingesting water or food containing chemical irritants, bacteria, protozoa, or parasites, which results in bloody diarrhea |
stomatitis | inflammation of the mouth of the stomach |
gastritis | inflammation of the stomach |
nasogastric intubation | insertion of a nasogastric tube through the nose into the stomach to relieve gastric distention by removing gas, food, or gastric secretions; instill medication, food, or fluids; or obtain a specimen for analysis |
anorrhexia | lack or loss of appetite, resulting in the inability to eat |
rectum | last portion of the GI tract which terminates at the anus |
ileum | lower division of the small intestine |
vertical banded gastroplasty | bariatric surgery that involves vertical stapling of the upper stomach near the esophagus to reduce it to a small pouch and insertion of a band that restricts food consumption and delays its passage from the pouch, causing a feeling of fullness |
morbid obesity | body mass index of 40 or greater, which is generally 100 pounds or more over ideal body weight |
trachea | cartilaginous tube which extends from the larynx to the bronchial tubes |
mastication | chewing- the first stage of digestion |
sphincter | circular band of muscle fibers that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening of the body |
endoscopic ultrasound | combines endoscopy and ultrasound to examine and obtain images of the digestive tract and the surrounding tissue and organs |
antidiarrheals | control loose stools and relieve diarrhea by absorbing excess water in the intestinal tract |
antiemetics | control nausea and vomiting by blocking nerve impulses to the vomiting center of the brain |
antacids | counteract or neutralize acidity usually in the stomach |
colostomy | creation of an opening of a portion of the colon through the abdominal wall to its outside surface in order to divert fecal flow to a colostomy bag |
antispasmodics | decrease gastrointestinal spasms by slowing peristalsis and motility throughout the GI tract |
hepatomegaly | enlargement of the liver |
obesity | excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body's skeletal and physical standards, usually an increase of 20 percent or more above ideal body weight |
polypectomy | excision of a polyp |
fecalith | fecal concretion |
cecum | first 2-3" of the large intestine |
ascending colon | first portion of the colon, extending from the cecum to the lower border of the liver |
Crohn disease | form of inflammatory bowel disease, usually of the ileum but possibly affecting any portion of the intestinal tract; also called regional enteritis |
oral leukoplakia | formation of white spots or patches on the mucous membrane of the tongue, lips, or cheek caused by irritation |
halitosis | foul-smelling breath |
magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography | magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to visualize the biliary and pancreatic ducts and gallbladder in a noninvasive manor |
bolus | mass of masticated food ready to be swallowed |
serum biliruben | measurement of the level of biliruben in the blood |
proctologist | one who specializes in diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus |
biliruben | orange-yellow pigment formed during destruction of erythrocytes that taken up by liver cells to form biliruben and eventually excreted in the feces |
triglycerides | organic compound, a true fat, that is made of one glycerol and three fatty acids |
hepatitis panel | panel of blood tests that identify the specific virus- hepatitis A, B, or C- that is causing hepatitis by testing serum using antibodies to each of these antigens |
melena | passage of dark-coloured, tarry stools, due to the presence of blood altered by intestinal juices |
steatorrhea | passage of fat in large amounts in the feces due to failure to digest and absorb it |
pharynx | passageway for air from the nose to the larynx and for food from the mouth to the esophagus |
anorectal | pertaining to both the anus and the rectum |
celiac | pertaining to the abdomen |
buccal | pertaining to the cheek |
lingual | pertaining to the tongue |
cachexia | physical wasting that includes loss of weight and muscle mass; commonly associated with AIDS and cancer |
sialolithiasis | presence of a stone in the salivary gland |
cholelithiasis | presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder or common bile duct |
lithotripsy | procedure for crushing a stone and eliminating its fragments surgically of using ultrasonic waves |
eructation | producing gas from the stomach, usually with a characteristic sound; also called belching |
peristalsis | progressive, wavelike movement that occurs involuntarily in hollow tubes of the body, especially the GI tract |
gastrointestinal system | provides the body with nutrients, electrolytes and water by ingestion, digestion, elimination and absorption |
upper gastrointestinal series | radiographic examination of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine following oral administration of barium; also called barium swallow |
lower gastrointestinal series | radiographic examination of the rectum and colon following enema administration of barium into the rectum; also called lower GI series or barium enema |
oral cholecystography | radiographic images taken of the gallbladder after administration of a contrast material containing iodine, usually in the form of a tablet |
cholecystogram | radiographic record of the gallbladder |
liver scan | radiographic visualization of the liver after injection of a radioactive substance |
sialography | radiologic examination of the salivary glands and ducts |
choledocholithotomy | removal of a gallstone though an incision of the bile duct |
borborygmus | rumbling or gurgling noises that are audible at a distance and caused by passage of gas through the liquid contents of the intestine |
cirrhosis | scarring and dysfunction of the liver caused by chronic liver disease |
jejunum | second division of the small intestine |
transverse colon | second portion of the colon that passes horizontally across the abdomen toward the spleen |
obstipation | severe constipation, which may be caused by an intestinal obstruction |
colic | spasm in any hollow or tubular soft organ especially in the colon, accompanied by pain |
pyloric stenosis | stricture or narrowing of the pyloric sphincter at the outlet of the stomach, causing an obstruction that blocks the flow of food into the small intestine |
ileorectal anastimosis | surgical connection of the ileum and rectum after total colectomy, as is sometimes performed in the treatment of ulcerative colitis |
intestinal anastimosis | surgical connection of two portions of the intestines; also called enteroenterostomy |
ileostomy | surgical formation of an opening from the ileum through the abdominal wall |
enterostomy | surgical formation of an opening from the small intestine through the abdominal wall |
anastomosis | surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from from one to another |
jejunorrhaphy | surgical repair of the jejunum |
cheiloplasty | surgical repair of the lip |
proctoplasty | surgical repair or reconstruction of the rectum or colon |
deglutation | swallowing (the act of) |
aerophagia | swallowing air |
irritable bowel syndrome | symptom complex marked by abdominal pain and altered bowel function for which no organic cause can be determined; also called spastic colon |
malabsorption syndrome | symptom complex of the small intestine characterized by the impaired passage of nutrients, minerals, or fluids through intestinal villi into the blood or lymph |
stool guaiac | test that applies a substance called guaiac to a stool sample to detect the presence of occult blood on the feces; also called Hemoccult |
stool culture | test to identify microorganisms or parasites present in feces that are causing a gastrointestinal infection |
oropharynx | the central part of the throat between the soft palate and epiglottis |
anal sphincer | the constricting muscle at the anus which relaxes to allow passage of stool |
enema | the introduction of liquid into the rectum for cleansing the bowel and for stimulating evacuation |
liver | the largest glandular organ which functions include: producing bile, removing glucose from blood, and storing vitamins |
laryngopharynx | the lower portion of the pharynx which divides into the trachea and esophagus |
anus | the outlet of the rectum |
absorption | the passage of simple nutrients into the bloodstream |
diarrhea | the passage of unformed watery bowel movements |
nasopharynx | the portion of the throat above the soft palate and behind the nose |
digestion | the process by which food is broke down, mechanically and chemically in the GI tract and converted into an absorbable form that can be used by body |
descending colon | third continuation of the colon which joins and forms the sigmoid colon |
ingest | to eat |
elimination | to pass urine from the bladder or stool from the bowel |
laxatives | treat constipation by increasing peristaltic activity in the large intestine or increasing water and electrolyte secretion into the bowel to induce defecation |
cholangioma | tumour of the bile duct or vessel |
abdominal ultrasound | ultrasound visualization of the abdominal aorta, liver, bile ducts, pancreas, kidneys, ureters, and bladder |
duodenum | uppermost division of the small intestine; receives secretions to aid in digestion |
extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy | use of shock waves as a noninvasive method to break up stones in the gallbladder or biliary ducts |
endoscopy | visual examination of a cavity or canal using a flexible fiveroptic instrument called an endoscope |
gastrointestinal endoscopy | visual examination of the GI tract using a flexible fiberoptic instrument with a magnifying lens and a light source to identify abnormalities, including bleeding, ulcerations, and tumours |
hematemesis | vomiting blood from bleeding in the stomach or esophagus |