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Chapter 12, MedTerms
The Digestive System
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| mouth | Used to bite and chew food. Mixes food with saliva, which contains salivary amylase, an enzyme that begins the digestion of starch. Shapes food into small portions, which the tongue pushes into the pharynx. |
| pharynx | Swallows food by reflex action and moves it into the esophagus. |
| esophagus | Moves food into the stomach by peristalsis. |
| stomach | Stores food; churns to mix food with water and digestive juices. Secretes protein-digesting hydrochloric acid (HCI) and the enzyme pepsin. |
| small intestine | Secretes enzymes. Receives secretions from the accessory organs, which digest and neutralize food. Site of most digestion and absorption of nutrients into the circulation. |
| large intestine | Forms, stores, and eliminates undigested waste material. |
| salivary glands | Secrete saliva, which moistens food and contains salivary amylase, an enzyme that begins the digestion of starch. |
| liver | Secretes bile salts that break down (emulsify) fats. |
| gallbladder | Stores bile and releases it into the digestive tract when needed. |
| pancreas | Secretes a variety of digestive enzymes. Also secretes bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid and water to dilute food. |
| anus | The distal opening of the digestive tract (root: an/o) |
| appendix | An appendage; usually means the narrow tube of lymphatic tissue attached to the cecum, the vermiform (worm-like) appendix |
| bile | The fluid secreted by the liver that emulsifies fats and aids in their absorption (roots: chol/e, bili) |
| cecum | A blind pouch at the beginning of the large intestine (root: cec/o) |
| colon | The major portion of the large intestine; extends from the cecum to the rectum and is formed by ascending, transverse, and descending portions (roots: col/o, colon/o) |
| common bile duct | The duct that carries bile into the duodenum; formed by the union of the cystic duct and the common hepatic duct (root: choledoch/o) |
| duodenum | The first portion of the small intestine (root: duoden/o) |
| enzyme | An organic catalyst; speeds the rate of chemical reactions |
| esophagus | The muscular tube that carries food from the pharynx to the stomach |
| feces | The waste material eliminated from the intestine (adjective: fecal); stool |
| gallbladder | A sac on the undersurface of the liver that stores bile (root: cholecyst/o) |
| hepatic portal system | A special circulatory pathway that brings blood directly from the abdominal organs to the liver for processing (also called simply the portal system); the vessel that enters the liver is the hepatic portal vein (portal vein) |
| ileum | The terminal portion of the small intestine (root: ile/o) |
| intestine | The portion of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus; it consists of the small and large intestines; it functions in digestion, absorption, and elimination of waste (root: enter/o); the bowel |
| jejunum | The middle portion of the small intestine (root: jejun/o) |
| lacteal | A lymphatic capillary in a villus of the small intestine; lacteals absorb digested fats into the lymph |
| large intestine | The terminal portion of the digestive tract, consisting of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anus; it stores and eliminates undigested waste material (feces) |
| liver | The large gland in the upper right abdomen; in addition to many other functions, it secretes bile needed for digestion and absorption of fats (roots: hepat/o) |
| lower esophageal sphincter (LES) | Muscle tissue at the distal end of the esophagus (gastroesophageal junction) that prevents stomach contents from refluxing into the esophagus; also called the cardiac sphincter |
| mastication | Chewing |
| mouth | The oral cavity; contains the tongue and teeth; used to take in and chew food, mix it with saliva, and move it toward the throat to be swallowed |
| palate | The roof of the mouth; the partition between the mouth and nasal cavity; consists of an anterior portion formed by bone, the hard palate, and a posterior portion formed of tissue, the soft palate (root: palat/o) |
| pancreas | A large, elongated gland posterior to the stomach; it produces hormones that regulate sugar metabolism and also produces digestive enzymes (root: pancreat/o) |
| peristalsis | Wave-like contractions of an organ's walls; moves material through an organ or duct |
| peritoneum | The large serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and supports the abdominal organs |
| pharynx | The throat; a common passageway for food entering the esophagus and air entering the larynx (root: pharyng/o) |
| pylorus | The stomach's distal opening into the duodenum (root: pylor/o); the opening is controlled by a ring of muscle, the pyloric sphincter |
| rectum | The distal portion of the large intestine; it stores and eliminates undigested waste (roots: rect/o, proct/o) |
| saliva | The clear secretion released into the mouth that moistens food and contains starch-digesting enzyme (root: sial/o); saliva is produced by three pairs of glands: the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands |
| sigmoid colon | Distal S-shaped portion of the large intestine located between the descending colon and the rectum |
| small intestine | The portion of the intestine between the stomach and the large intestine; comprised of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum; accessory organs secrete into the small intestine, and almost all digestion and absorption occur there |
| stomach | A muscular sac-like organ below the diaphragm that stores food and secretes juices that digest proteins (root: gastr/o) |
| uvula | The fleshy mass that hangs from the soft palate; aids in speech production (literally "little grape") (root: uvul/o) |
| villi | Tiny projections in the lining of the small intestine that absorb digested foods into the circulation (singular: villus) |
| bucc/o | cheek |
| dent/o, dent/i | tooth, teeth |
| odont/o | tooth, teeth |
| gingiv/o | gum (gingiva) |
| gloss/o | tongue |
| lingu/o | tongue |
| gnath/o | jaw |
| labi/o | lip |
| or/o | mouth |
| stoma, stomat/o | mouth |
| palat/o | palate |
| sial/o | saliva, salivary gland, salivary duct |
| uvul/o | uvula |
| esophag/o | esophagus |
| gastr/o | stomach |
| pylor/o | pylorus |
| enter/o | intestine |
| duoden/o | duodenum |
| jejun/o | jejunum |
| ile/o | ileum |
| cec/o | cecum |
| col/o, colon/o | colon |
| sigmoid/o | sigmoid colon |
| rect/o | rectum |
| proct/o | rectum |
| an/o | anus |
| hepat/o | liver |
| bili | bile |
| chole/o, chol/o | bile, gall |
| cholecyst/o | gallbladder |
| cholangi/o | bile duct |
| choledoch/o | common bile duct |
| pancreat/o | pancreas |
| appendicitis | Inflammation of the appendix |
| ascites | Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity; a form of edema; may be caused by heart disease, lymphatic or venous obstruction, cirrhosis, or changes in blood plasma composition |
| Barrett syndrome | Condition resulting from chronic esophagitis, as caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease; inflammatory injury can lead to esophageal spasms, scarring, strictures, and increased risk of cancer; also called Barrett esophagus |
| biliary colic | Acute abdominal pain caused by gallstones in the bile ducts |
| bilirubin | A pigment released in the breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells; mainly excreted by the liver in bile |
| caries | Tooth decay |
| celiac disease | Inability to absorb foods containing gluten, a protein found in wheat and some other grains; caused by an excess immune response to gluten |
| cholecystitis | Inflammation of the gallbladder |
| cholelithiasis | The condition of having stones in the gallbladder; also used to refer to stones in the common bile duct |
| cirrhosis | Chronic liver disease with degeneration of liver tissue |
| Crohn disease | A chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract usually involving the ileum and colon |
| diarrhea | The frequent passage of watery bowel movements |
| diverticulitis | Inflammation of diverticula (small pouches) in the wall of the digestive tract, especially in the colon |
| diverticulosis | The presence of diverticula, especially in the colon |
| dysphagia | Difficulty in swallowing |
| emesis | Vomiting |
| fistula | An abnormal passageway between two organs such as between the rectum and anus (anorectal fistula), or from an organ to the body surface |
| gastroenteritis | Inflammation of the stomach and intestine |
| gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | Condition caused by reflux of gastric juices into the esophagus resulting in heartburn, regurgitation, inflammation, and possible damage to the esophagus; caused by weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) |
| heartburn | A warm or burning sensation felt behind the sternum and radiating upward; commonly associated with gastroesophageal reflux; medical name is pyrosis (pyr/o means "heat") |
| hemorrhoids | Varicose veins in the rectum associated with pain, bleeding, and sometimes rectal prolapse; piles |
| hepatitis | Inflammation of the liver; commonly caused by a viral infection |
| hepatomegaly | Enlargement of the liver |
| hiatal hernia | A protrusion of the stomach through the opening (hiatus) in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes |
| icterus | A yellowish color of the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eye caused by bile pigments in the blood; the main pigment is bilirubin, a byproduct of erythrocyte destruction; jaundice |
| ileus | Intestinal obstruction; may be caused by lack of peristalsis (adynamic, paralytic ileus) or by contraction (dynamic ileus); intestinal matter and gas may be relieved by insertion of a drainage tube |
| intussusception | Slipping of one intestinal segment into another part below it; occurs mainly in male infants in the ileocecal region; may be fatal if untreated for more than one day |
| jaundice | A yellowish color of the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eye caused by bile pigments in the blood (from French jaune meaning "yellow"); the main pigment is bilirubin, a byproduct of erythrocyte destruction; icterus |
| leukoplakia | White patches on mucous membranes, as on the tongue or cheeks, often resulting from smoking or other irritants; may be precancerous |
| nausea | An unpleasant sensation in the upper abdomen that often precedes vomiting; typically occurs in digestive upset, motion sickness, and sometimes early pregnancy |
| occult blood | Blood present in such small amounts that it can be detected only microscopically or chemically; in the feces, a sign of intestinal bleeding (occult means "hidden") |
| pancreatitis | Inflammation of the pancreas |
| peptic ulcer | A lesion in the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum caused by the action of gastric juice |
| peritonitis | Inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal organs; may result from perforation of an ulcer, ruptured appendix, or reproductive tract infection, among other causes |
| polyp | A tumor that grows on a stalk and bleeds easily |
| portal hypertension | An abnormal pressure increase in the hepatic portal system; may be caused by cirrhosis, infection, thrombosis, or a tumor |
| pyloric stenosis | Narrowing of the opening between the stomach and the duodenum; pylorostenosis |
| regurgitation | A backward flowing, such as the backflow of undigested food |
| splenomegaly | Enlargement of the spleen |
| ulcerative colitis | Chronic ulceration of the rectum and colon; the cause is unknown, but may involve autoimmunity |
| volvulus | Twisting of the intestine resulting in obstruction; usually involves the sigmoid colon and occurs most often in children and in the elderly; may be caused by congenital malformation, a foreign body, or adhesion; failure to treat immediately may be fatal |
| anastomosis | A passage or communication between two vessels or organs; may be normal or pathologic or may be created surgically |
| barium study | Use of barium sulfate as a liquid contrast medium for fluoroscopic or radiographic study of the digestive tract; can show obstruction, tumors, ulcers, hiatal hernia, and motility disorders, among other conditions |
| cholecystectomy | Surgical removal of the gallbladder |
| Dukes classification | A system for staging colorectal cancer based on degree of bowel wall penetration and lymph node involvement; severity is graded from A to C |
| endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) | A technique for viewing the pancreatic and bile ducts and for performing certain techniques to relieve obstructions; contrast medium is injected into the biliary system from the duodenum before radiographs are taken |
| endoscopy | Use of a fiberoptic endoscope for direct visual examination; GI studies include esophagogastroduodenoscopy, proctosigmoidoscopy (rectum and distal colon), and colonoscopy (all regions of the colon) |
| ostomy | An opening into the body; generally refers to an opening created for elimination of body waste; also refers to the operation done to create such an opening (see stoma) |
| stoma | A surgically created opening to the body surface or between two organs (literally "mouth") |
| bolus | A mass, such as the rounded mass of food that is swallowed |
| cardia | The part of the stomach near the esophagus, named for its closeness to the heart |
| chyme | The semiliquid partially digested food that moves from the stomach into the small intestine |
| defecation | The evacuation of feces from the rectum |
| deglutition | Swallowing |
| duodenal bulb | The part of the duodenum near the pylorus; the first bend (flexure) of the duodenum |
| duodenal papilla | The raised area where the common bile duct and pancreatic duct enter the duodenum; papilla of Vater |
| greater omentum | A fold of the peritoneum that extends from the stomach over the abdominal organs |
| hepatic flexure | The right bend of the colon, forming the junction between the ascending colon and the transverse colon |
| ileocecal valve | A valve-like structure between the ileum of the small intestine and the cecum of the large intestine |
| mesentery | The portion of the peritoneum that folds over and supports the intestine |
| mesocolon | The portion of the peritoneum that folds over and supports the colon |
| papilla of Vater | The raised area where the common bile duct and pancreatic duct enter the duodenum; duodenal papilla |
| rugae | The large folds in the stomach's lining seen when the stomach is empty |
| sphincter of Oddi | The muscular ring at the opening of the common bile duct into the duodenum |
| splenic flexure | The left bend of the colon, forming the junction between the transverse colon and the descending colon |
| achalasia | Failure of a smooth muscle to relax, especially the lower esophageal sphincter, so that food is retained in the esophagus |
| achlorhydria | Lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach; opposite is hyperchlorhydria |
| anorexia | Loss of appetite; anorexia nervosa is a psychologically induced refusal or inability to eat (adjectives: anorectic, anorexic) |
| aphagia | Inability to swallow or difficulty in swallowing; refusal or inability to eat |
| aphthous ulcer | An ulcer in a mucous membrane, as in the mouth |
| bruxism | Clenching and grinding of the teeth, usually during sleep |
| bulimia | Excessive, insatiable appetite; a disorder characterized by overeating followed by induced vomiting, diarrhea, or fasting |
| cachexia | Profound ill health, malnutrition, and wasting |
| cheilosis | Cracking at the corners of the mouth, often caused by B vitamin deficiency (root cheil/o means "lip") |
| cholestasis | Stoppage of bile flow |
| constipation | Infrequency or difficulty in defecation and the passage of hard, dry feces |
| dyspepsia | Poor or painful digestion |
| eructation | Belching |
| familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) | A hereditary condition in which multiple polyps form in the colon and rectum, predisposing one to colorectal cancer |
| flatulence | Condition of having gas or air in the GI tract |
| flatus | Gas or air in the gastrointestinal tract; gas or air expelled through the anus |
| hematemesis | Vomiting of blood |
| irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) | A chronic stress-related disease characterized by diarrhea, constipation, and pain associated with rhythmic intestinal contractions; mucous colitis; spastic colon |
| megacolon | An extremely dilated colon; usually congenital but may occur in acute ulcerative colitis |
| melena | Black tarry feces resulting from blood in the intestines; common in newborns; may also be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding |
| obstipation | Extreme constipation |
| pernicious anemia | A form of anemia caused by the stomach's failure to secrete intrinsic factor, a substance needed for the absorption of vitamin B12 |
| pilonidal cyst | A dermal cyst in the sacral region, usually at the top of the cleft between the buttocks; may become infected and begin to drain |
| thrush | Fungal infection of the mouth and/or throat caused by Candida; appears as mucosal white patches or ulcers |
| Vincent disease | Severe gingivitis with necrosis associated with the bacterium Treponema vincentii; necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis; trench mouth |
| appendectomy | Surgical removal of the appendix |
| bariatrics | The branch of medicine concerned with prevention and control of obesity and associated diseases (from the Greek baros, meaning "weight") |
| bariatric surgery | Surgery to reduce the size of the stomach and reduce nutrient absorption in the treatment of morbid obesity |
| Billroth operations | Gastrectomy with anastomosis of the stomach to the duodenum (Billroth I) or to the jejunum (Billroth II) |
| gavage | Process of feeding through a nasogastric tube into the stomach |
| lavage | Washing out of a cavity; irrigation |
| manometry | Measurement of pressure; pertaining to the GI tract, measurement of pressure in the portal system as a sign of obstruction |
| Murphy sign | Inability to take a deep breath when fingers are pressed firmly below the right arch of the ribs (below the liver); signifies gallbladder disease |
| nasogastric (NG) tube | Tube that is passed through the nose into the stomach; may be used for emptying the stomach, administering medication, giving liquids, or sampling stomach contents |
| parenteral hyperalimentation | Complete intravenous feeding for one who cannot take in food; total parenteral nutrition (TPN) |
| percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube | Tube inserted into the stomach for long-term feeding |
| vagotomy | Interruption of vagal nerve impulses to reduce stomach secretions in the treatment of a gastric ulcer; originally done surgically but may also be done with drugs |
| antacid | Agent that counteracts acidity, usually gastric acidity |
| antidiarrheal | Drug that treats or prevents diarrhea by reducing intestinal motility or absorbing irritants and soothing the intestinal lining |
| antiemetic | Agent that relieves or prevents nausea and vomiting |
| antiflatulent | Agent that prevents or relieves flatulence |
| antispasmodic | Agent that relieves spasm, usually of smooth muscle |
| emetic | An agent that causes vomiting |
| histamine H2 antagonist | Drug that decreases secretion of stomach acid by interfering with the action of histamine at H2 receptors; used to treat ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems; H2-receptor-blocking agent |
| laxative | Agent that promotes elimination from the large intestine; types include stimulants, substances that retain water (hyperosmotics), stool softeners, and bulk-forming agents |
| proton pump inhibitor (PPI) | Agent that inhibits gastric acid secretion by blocking the transport of hydrogen ions (protons) into the stomach |
| BE | Barium enema (for radiographic study of the colon) |
| BM | Bowel movement |
| CBD | Common bile duct |
| EGD | Esophagogastroduodenoscopy |
| ERCP | Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography |
| FAP | Familial adenomatous polyposis |
| GERD | Gastroesophageal reflux disease |
| GI | Gastrointestinal |
| HAV | Hepatitis A virus |
| HBV | Hepatitis B virus |
| HCV | Hepatitis C virus |
| HDV | Hepatitis D virus |
| HEV | Hepatitis E virus |
| HCI | Hydrochloric acid |
| IBD | Inflammatory bowel disease |
| IBS | Irritable bowel syndrome |
| LES | Lower esophageal sphincter |
| NG | Nasogastric (tube) |
| N&V | Nausea and vomiting |
| N/V/D, NVD | Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea |
| PONV | Postoperative nausea and vomiting |
| PPI | Proton pump inhibitor |
| TPN | Total parenteral nutrition |
| UGI | Upper gastrointestinal (radiograph series) |
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