Term | Definition |
anorexia | lack of appetite |
ascites | abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen |
borborygmus | rumbling or gurgling noise produced by the movement of gas, fluid, or both in the GI tract |
constipation | difficulty in passing stools |
diarrhea | frequent passage of loose watery stools |
dysphagia | difficulty swallowing |
eructation | gas expelled through the anus |
hematochezia | passage of fresh, bright red blood from the rectum |
jaundice | yellow-orange coloration of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood |
melena | black, tarry stools, feces containing digested blood |
nausea | unpleasant sensation in the stomach associated with a tendency to vomit |
steatorrhea | fat in the feces, frothy, foul-smelling fecal matter |
achalasia | failure to lower esophagus sphincter muscle to relax |
esophageal cancer | malignant tumor of the esophagus |
esophageal varices | swollen, varicose veins at the lower end of the esophagus |
gastric carcinoma | malignant tumor of the stomach |
gastroesophageal reflux disease | solids and fluids return to the mouth from the stomach |
peptic ulcer | open sore or lesion of the mucous membrane of the stomach or duodenum |
hernia | protrusion of an organ or part through the muscle normally containing it |
anal fistula | abnormal tube like passageway near the anus |
colonic polyposis | polyps protrude from the mucous membrane of the colon |
colorectal cancer | adenocarcinoma of the colon or the rectum or both |
crohn disease | chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract |
diverticulosis | abnormal side pockets in the intestinal wall |
dysemntery | painful, inflamed intestines |
hemorrhoids | swollen, twisted, varicose veins in the rectal region |
ileus | failure of peristalsis with resulting obstruction of the intestines |
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) | inflammation of the colon and small intestines |
intussuscetion | telescoping of the intestines |
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) | group of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with stress and tension |
ulcerative colitis | chronic inflammation of the colon with the presence of ulcers |
volvulus | twisting of the intestines on itself |
cirrhosis | chronic degenerative disease of the liver |
pancreatic cancer | malignant tumor of the pancreas |
pancreatitis | inflammation of the pancreas |
viral hepatitis | inflammation of the liver caused by a virus |
cholelithiasis | gallstones in the gallbladder |