Question | Answer |
absorption | The passage of simple nutrients into the bloodstream. |
achlorhydric | Absence of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. |
aerophagia | Swallowing air. |
anal sphincter | The constricting muscle at the anus which relaxes to allow passage of stool. |
anorectal | Pertaining to both the anus and the rectum. |
anus | The outlet of the rectum. |
ascending colon | First portion of the colon, extending from the cecum to the lower border of the liver. |
buccal | Pertaining to the lip. |
bulimia | An eating disorder characterized by binge eating, purging, and vigorous exercise. |
cecum | First 2-3" of the large intestine. |
celiac | Pertaining to the abdomen. |
cheiloplasty | Surgical repair of the lip. |
cholangioma | Tumour of the bile duct or vessel. |
cholecystogram | Radiographic record of the gallbladder. |
cholelith | A gallstone. |
choledocholithotomy | Removal of a gallstone through an incision of the bile duct. |
colon | Also called the large intestine; it is divided into four portions and is responsible for absorption and elimination. |
descending colon | Third continuation of the colon which joins and forms the sigmoid colon |
diarrhea | The passage of unformed watery bowel movements. |
digestion | The process by which food is broken down, mechanically and chemically in the GI tract and converted into an absorbable form that can be used by the body. |
diverticulitis | Inflammation of a sac-like bulge that may develop in the large intestine. |
duodenum | Uppermost division of the small intestine; receives secretions to aid in digestion. |
elimination | To pass urine from the bladder or stool from the bowel. |
enema | The introduction of liquid into the rectum for cleansing the bowel and for stimulating evacuation of the bowel. |
enterostomy | Surgical formation of an opening from the small intestine through the abdominal wall. |
epiglottis | A flap of tissue covering the trachea, which prevents food and liquids from entering the airway. |
esophagojejunostomy | Anastomosis of the esophagus and the jejunum. |
esophagus | A muscular canal which extends from the pharynx to the stomach. |
gallbladder | An organ below the liver which stores and empties bile through its ducts into the small intestine. |
gastritis | Inflammation of the stomach. |
gastrointestinal system | Provides the body with nutrients, electrolytes and water by ingestion, digestion, elimination and absorption. |
hepatomegaly | Enlargement of the liver. |
hernia | Abnormal protrusion of an organ or tissue through structures that normally contain it. |
ingest | To eat. |
ileostomy | Surgical formation of an opening from the ileum through the abdominal wall. |
ileum | Lower division of the small intestine. |
jejunorrhaphy | Surgical repair of the jejunum. |
jejunum | Second division of the small intestine. |
laryngopharynx | The lower portion of the pharynx which divides into the trachea and esophagus. |
lingual | Pertaining to the tongue. |
liver | The largest glandular organ which functions include: producing bile, removing glucose from the blood, and storing vitamins. |
liver scan | Radiographic visualization of the liver after injection of a radiographic substance. |
mastication | Chewing-the first stage of digestion. |
nasopharynx | The portion of the throat above the soft palate and behind the nose. |
occult blood | A test in which stool samples are collected to determine gastrointestinal bleeding. |
oropharynx | The central part of the throat between the soft palate and the epiglottis. |
pancreas | An organ which uses ducts to provide exocrine secretions to the duodenum to aid in digestion. |
pharynx | Passageway for air from the nose to the larynx and for food from the mouth to the esophagus. |
proctoplasty | Surgical repair or reconstruction of the rectum or colon. |
proctologist | One who specializes in diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus |
rectum | Last portion of the GI tract which terminates at the anus. |
sialolithiasis | Presence of a stone in the salivary gland. |
sigmoid colon | A flexure of the colon which joins the descending colon and rectum. |
small intestine | A constitution of the GI tract responsible for absorption. Consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. |
stomach | A sac-like structure in the abdominal cavity, responsible for digestion of food. |
stoma | An artificial opening, in this case, one from the bowel through the abdominal wall. |
stomatitis | Inflammation of the mouth of the stomach. |
trachea | Cartilaginous tube which extends from the larynx to the bronchial tubes. |
transverse colon | Second portion of the colon that passes horizontally across the abdomen toward the spleen. |
ulcer | A lesion of the skin or mucous membrane which frequently develops in the duodenum or stomach. |
ulcerative colitis | Inflammation and ulceration of the innermost lining of the colon. |