Question | Answer |
irritable bowel syndrome | group of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with stress-tension; i.e. abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation & bloating |
jaundice | symptom of illness marked by yellow-orange discoloration of skin-white if eyes; excess bilirubin in the blood |
jejunum | second part of small intestine |
labial | pertaining to the lip |
laparoscopy | visual examination of the abdomen & abdominal organs through small incisions in abdomen; endoscope is used |
lipase | enzyme (-ase) that digests fat; produced by cells in pancreas & secreted into duodenum |
lithogenesis | formation of stone (calculi) |
liver | large, reddish-brown organ in RUQ of abdomen; secretes bile, forms blood proteins & metabolizes fats, proteins & sugars |
lower esophageal sphincter | ring of muscles between esophagus & stomach |
mastication | process of chewing |
melena | black, tarry stools; feces containing blood |
mesentery | membrane that holds intestine together; fold of peritoneum attaching the small intestine to dorsal body wall |
molar teeth | 6th, 7th & 8th teeth from middle-either side of dental arch; most posterior molar in wisdom tooth. |
nausea | unpleasant sensation in stomach with tendency to vomit |
odynophagia | painful swallowing |
oral | pertaining to the mouth |
oral leukoplakia | white plaques-patches on mucous membranes of mouth |
orthodontist | dentist specializing in straightening teeth |
palate | roof of mouth; front palate is front bony portion & soft palate is posterior fleshy part near throat |
palatoplasty | surgical repair of palate |
pancreas | gland under-behind stomach; produces enzymes to digest foods & hormone insulin to transport sugar to cells |
pancreatitis | inflammation of pancreas |
papillae | small elevations on surface of tongue containing taste buds |
parenteral | pertaining to by some route other than through gastrointestinal tract, as by intravenous injection |
parotid gland | salivary gland within cheek, just anterior to ear |
peptic ulcer | open sore-lesion of mucous membrane of stomach & duodenum |
perianal | pertaining to surrounding the anus |
periodontal disease | inflammation & degeneration of gums, teeth & surrounding bone |
periodontist | dentist specializing in treating the gums |
peristalsis | rhythm-like contractions of tubes of gastrointestinal tract & other tubular structures |
peritonitis | inflammation of peritoneum |
pharyngeal | pertaining to pharynx-throat |
pharynx | throat; common passageway for food from the mouth |
portal vein | large vein bringing blood to liver from intestines |
postprandial | after meals |
premolar teeth | either or the 2 teeth on each side of each jaw, just behind canine teeth & in front of the molars |
proctologist | specialist in study of anus & rectum |
protease | enzyme that digests protein |
pulp | soft tissue within a tooth containing nerves & blood vessels |
pyloric sphincter | ring of muscles that surround opening of stomach to duodenum |
pyloroplasty | surgical repair of pyloric sphincter |
pylorus | distal region of stomach near duodenum |
rectocele | hernia of wall of rectum |
rectum | final section of colon |
rugae | folds-creases in mucous membrane of stomach or hard palate of mouth |
saliva | enzyme-containing digestive juice secreted by salivary glands |
salivary glands | 3 pairs of exocrine glands secreting saliva into mouth; parotid glands, sublingual glands & submandibular glands |
sialadenitis | inflammation of salivary gland |
sialolith | salivary gland stone; lodged in a salivary gland-duct |
sigmoid colon | distal, lower end of colon |
sigmoidoscopy | visual endoscopic exam of sigmoid colon |
sphincter | circular ring of muscle that surrounds an opening-orifice |
steatorrhea | discharge of fat in feces due to improper digestion & malabsorption of fat |
stomatitis | inflammation of the mouth |
sublingual | pertaining to under the tongue |
submandibular | pertaining to under the lower jaw-mandible |
triglycerides | chief form of fat in body cells; composed of 3 molecules of fatty acids & one molecule of glycerol |
ulcerative colitis | inflammation of colon & rectum with presence of ulcers; inflammatory bowel disease |
uvula | small, fleshy mass hanging from soft palate at back of mouth |
uvulectomy | removal of uvula |
villi | fingerlike, microscopic projections on the inner surface of small intestine; sites of absorption of foods |
viral hepatitis | inflammation of liver caused by a virus |
volvulus | twisting of intestine upon itself |
abdominal ultrasonography | sound waves beam into the abdomen & produce an image of abdominal viscera |
aphthous stomatitis | inflammation of the mouth with small ulcers; canker sores |
atresia | absence of normal opening |
biliary atresia | congenital absence of the opening from the common bile duct into small intestine. |
bronchiectasis | abnormal widening of the bronchial tubes or their branches |
bronchospasm | sudden involuntary contraction of muscles in walls of bronchial tubes; occurs in asthma |
cecal volvulus | abnormal twisting of cecum |
celiac artery | blood vessel that carries blood to abdominal organs from aorta |
cheilosis | abnormal condition of lips |
cholangiography | abnormal widening or dilation of a bile vessel or duct |
cholangiopancreatography | x-ray recording of bile vessel or ducts & pancreas after administration of contrast material directly into bile & pancreatic ducts |
cholecystectomy | removal of gallbladder |
cholecystojejunostomy | formation of new opening between gallbladder & jejunum; an anastomosis |
cholecystolithiasis | abnormal condition of stones in gallbladder |
choledochal | pertaining to common bile duct |
cholelithiasis | abnormal condition of gallstone formation; in gallbladder (cholecystolithiasis) or in common bile duct (choledocholithiasis) |
cholestasis | stoppage of bile flow |
colectomy | surgical removal of colon |
colonoscopy | visual examination of colon |
computer tomography | series of x-ray pics showing cross-sectional, axial, or transverse images of internal organs |
dentalgia | pain in a tooth |
dysmenorrhea | painful menstrual flow |
dyspepsia | painful digestion; indigestion |
dysphagia | difficulty swallowing |
esophageal atresia | congenital absence of the normal opening from the esophagus to the stomach |
gastric bypass | reducing the size of the stomach by diverting food into the jejunum; promotes weight loss for extreme obesity |
gastroduodenal anastomosis | new surgical opening between the stomach & duodenum |
gastroenteritis | inflammation of the stomach & intestines |