Question | Answer |
bilirubin | orange-colored or yellowish pigment in bile |
bolus | mass of masticated food ready to be swallowed |
exocrine | denotes a gland that secretes its products through excretory ducts to the surface of an organ or tissue or into a vessel |
sphincter | circular band of muscle fibers that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening of the body |
What is the main function of the Digestive system? | to provide vital nutrients for growth, maintenance, and repair of all organs and body cells |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Blood, Lymph, and Immune systems? | (1) liver regulates blood glucose levels (2) digestive tract secretes acids and enzymes to provide a hostile environment for pathogens (3) intestinal walls contain lymphoid nodules to prevent invasion of pathogens (4) absorbs vitamin K for blood clotting |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Cardiovascular system? | absorbs nutrients needed by the heart |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Endocrine system? | (1) liver eliminates hormones from the blood to end their activity (2) pancreas contains hormone-producing cells |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Female reproductive system? | (1) provides adequate nutrients, including fats, to make conception and normal fetal development possible (2) provides nutrients for repair of endometrium following menstruation |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Genitourinary system? | (1) provides adequate nutrients in the development of viable sperm (2) liver metabolized hormones, toxins, and drugs to forms that can be excreted in urine |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Integumentary system? | (1) supplies fats that provided insulation in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue (2) absorbs nutrients for maintenance, growth, and repair of the skin |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Musculoskeletal system? | (1) provides nutrients needed for energy fuel (2) absorbs calcium needed for bone salts and muscle contraction (3) liver removes lactic acid (resulting from muscle activity) from the blood |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Nervous system? | (1) supplies nutrients for normal neural functioning (2) provides nutrients for synthesis of neurotransmitters and electrolytes for transmission of a nervous impulse (3) liver plays a role in maintaining glucose levels for neural function |
What is the relationship of the Digestive system to the Respiratory system? | (1) absorbs nutrients needed by cells in the lungs and other tissues int he respiratory tract (2) shares the pharynx, divides into two tubes: the trachea (leads to lungs) and the esophagus (leads to stomach) |
or/o | mouth |
stomat/o | mouth |
gloss/o | tongue |
lingu/o | tongue |
bucc/o | cheek |
cheil/o | lip |
labi/o | lip |
dent/o | teeth |
odont/o | teeth |
gingiv/o | gum(s) |
sial/o | saliva, salivary gland |
esophag/o | esophagus |
pharyng/o | pharynx (throat) |
gastr/o | stomach |
pylor/o | pylorus |
duoden/o | duodenum (first pat of small intestine) |
enter/o | intestine (usually small intestine) |
jejun/o | jejunum (second part of small intestine) |
ile/o | ileum (third part of small intestine) |
append/o | appendix |
appendic/o | appendix |
col/o | colon |
colon/o | colon |
sigmoid/o | sigmoid colon |
rect/o | rectum |
proct/o | anus, rectum |
an/o | anus |
hepat/o | liver |
pancreat/o | pancreas |
cholangi/o | bile vessel |
chol/e | bile, gall |
cholecyst/o | gallbladder |
choledoch/o | bile duct |
-emesis | vomit |
-iasis | abnormal condition (produced by something specified) |
-megaly | enlargement |
-orexia | appetite |
-pepsia | digestion |
-phagia | swallowing, eating |
-prandial | meal |
-rrhea | discharge, flow |
dia- | through, across |
peri- | around |
sub- | under, below |
anorexia | lack or loss of appetite, resulting in the inability to eat |
appendicitis | inflammation of the appendix, usually due to obstruction or infection |
ascites | abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen |
borborygmus | rumbling or gurgling noises that are audible at a distance and caused by passage of gas through the liquid contents of the intestine |
cachexia | physical wasting that includes loss of weight and muscle mass; commonly associated with AIDS and cancer |
cholelithiasis | presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder or common bile duct |
cirrhosis | scarring and dysfunction of the liver caused by chronic liver disease |
colic | spasm in any hollow or tubular soft organ especially in the colon, accompanied by pain |
Crohn disease | chronic inflammation, usually of the ileum, but possibly affecting any portion of the intestinal tract; also called 'regional enteritis' |
deglutition | act of swallowing |
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 |
dyspepsia | epigastric discomfort felt after eating; also called 'indigestion' |
dysphagia | inability or difficulty swallowing; also called 'aphagia' |
eructation | producing gas from the stomach, usually with a characteristic sound; also called 'belching' |
fecalith | fecal concentration |
flatus | gas in the GI tract; expelling of air from a body orifice, especially the anus |
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus due to a malfunction of the sphincter muscle at the inferior portion of the esophagus |
halitosis | offensive, or "bad," breath |
hematemesis | vomiting of blood from bleeding in the stomach or esophagus |
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) | symptom complex marked by abdominal pain and altered bowel function (typically constipation, diarrhea, or alternating constipation and diarrhea) 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 |
melena | passage of dark-colored, tarry stools, due to the presence of blood altered by intestinal juices |
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 |
morbid obesity | BMI of 40 or greater, which is generally 100 or more pounds over ideal weight |
obstipation | severe constipation; may be caused by an intestinal obstruction |
oral leukoplakia | formation of white spots or patches on the mucous membrane of the tongue, lips, or cheek caused primarily by irritation |
peristalsis | progressive, wavelike movement that occurs involuntary in hollow tubes of the body, especially the GI tract |
pyloric stenosis | stricture or narrowing of the pyloric sphincter (circular muscle of the pylorus) at the outlet of the stomach, causing an obstruction that blocks the flow of food into the small intestine |
regurgitation | backward flowing, as in the return of solids or fluids to the mouth from the stomach |
steatorrhea | passage of fat in large amounts in the feces due to failure to digest and absorb it |
endoscopy | visual examination of a cavity or canal using a flexible fiberoptic instrument called an 'endoscope' |
upper GI endoscopy | endoscopy of the esophagus (esophagoscopy), stomach (gastroscopy), and duodenum (duodenoscopy) |
lower GI endoscopy | endoscopy of the colon (colonoscopy), sigmoid colon (sigmoidoscopy), and rectum and anal canal (proctoscopy) |
hepatitis panel | panel of blood tests that identify the specific virus-hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), or hepatitis C (HCV)-causing hepatitis by testing serum using antibodies to each of these antigens |
liver function tests (LFTs) | group of blood tests that evaluate liver injury, liver function, and conditions often associated with the biliary tract |
serum bilirubin | measurement of the level of bilirubin in the blood |
stool culture | test to identify microorganisms or parasites present in feces |
stool guaiac | applying a substance called guaiac to a stool sample to detect presence of occult (hidden) blood in the feces; also called 'Hemoccult' (trade name of a modified guaiac test) |
barium enema (BE) | radiographic examination of the rectum and colon following enema administration of barium sulfate (contrast medium) into the rectum; also called 'lower GI series' |
barium swallow | radiographic examination of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine following oral administration of barium sulfate (contrast medium); also called 'esophagram' and 'upper GI series' |
cholecystography | radiographic images taken of the gallbladder after administration of a contrast material containing iodine, usually in the form of a tablet |
computed tomography (CT) | imaging technique achieved by rotating an x-ray emitter around the area to be scanned and measuring the intensity of transmitted rays from different angels |
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) | endoscopic procedure that provides radiographic visualization of the bile and pancreatic ducts to identify partial or total obstruction, as well as stones, cysts, and tumors |
percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTCP) | radiographic examination of bile duct structures |
sialography | radiologic examination of the salivary glands and ducts |
abdominal ultrasound | ultrasound visualization of the abdominal aorta, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, kidneys, ureters, and bladder |
liver biopsy | use of a large-bore needle to remove a core of liver tissue fro histological examination |
nasogastric intubation | procedure that involves insertion of a nasogastric tube through the nose into the stomach to relieve gastric distention by removing gas, food, or gastric secretion; to instill medication, food, or fluids; or to obtain a specimen for laboratory analysis |
anastomosis | surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to another |
ileorectal anastomosis | surgical connection of the ileum and rectum after total colectomy, as is sometimes performed in the treatment of ulcerative colitis |
intestinal anastomosis | surgical connection of two portions of the intestines; also called 'enteroenterostomy' |
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 |
vertical banded gastroplasty | upper stomach near esophagus is stapled vertically to a small pouch; a band is then inserted that restricts food consumption and delays its passage from the pouch, causing a feeling of fullness |
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB) | (1) stomach is stapled to a small pouch (2) jejunum is shortened and connected to small pouch, causing base of duodenum leading from nonfunctioning portion of stomach to form a Y configuration; decreases food pathway, less absorption of calories and fat |
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 |
lithotripsy | procedure for crushing a stone and elimination its fragments either surgically or using ultrasonic shock waves |
extracorporeal shockwave | use of shock waves as a noninvasive method to break up stones in the gallbladder or biliary ducts |
polypectomy | excision of a polyp |
pyloromyotomy | incision of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the pylorus; used to treat hypertrophic pyloric stenosis |
antacids | counteract or neutralize acidity, usually in the stomach
(1) calcium carbonate: Mylanta, Rolaids, Tums |
antidiarrheals | control loose stools and relieve diarrhea by absorbing excess water in the bowel or slowing peristalsis in the intestinal tract
(1) loperamide: Imodium
(2) kaolin/pectin: Donnagel-MB, Kapectolin |
antimetrics | control nausea and vomiting by blocking nerve impulses to the vomiting center of the brain
(1) prochlorperazine: Compazine, Compro
(2) trimethobenzamide: T-Gen, Tigan |
antispasmodics | decrease GI spasms by slowing peristalsis and motility throughout the GI tract
(1) glycopyrrolate: Robinul
(2) propantheline: Pro-Banthine |
laxatives | treat constipation by increasing peristaltic activity in the large intestine or increasing water and electrolyte secretion into the bowel to induce defecation
(1) senna, sennosides: Senokot, Senolax
(2) psyllium: Metamucil, Natural Fiber Supplement |
ABC | aspiration biopsy cytology |
alk phos | alkaline phosphatase |
ALT | alanine aminotransferase |
AST | angiotensin sensitivity |
Ba | barium |
BE | barium enema |
BM | bowel movement |
BMI | body mass index |
CF | cystic fibrosis |
CT | computed tomography |
EGD | esophagogastroduodenoscopy |
ERCP | endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography |
GB | gallbladder |
GBS | gallbladder series (x-ray studies) |
GER | gastroesophageal reflux |
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 |
IBS | irritable bowel syndrome |
LFT | liver function test |
NG | nasogastric |
PE | physical examination; pulmonary embolism |
PTHC | percutaneous transhepatic cholangeography |
stat, STAT | immediately |
PMH | past medical history |
PUD | peptic ulcer disease |
RGB | Roux-en-Y gastric bypass |
R/O | rule out |
a.e. | before meals |
b.i.d. | twice a day |
hs | half strength |
h.s. | at bedtime |
NPO, n.p.o. | nothing by mouth |
pc, p.c. | after meals |
p.o. | by mouth |
p.r.n. | as required |
qAM | every morning |
q.d. | every day |
q.h. | every hour |
q.2h. | every 2 hours |
q.i.d. | every 4 hours |
q.o.d. | every other day |
qPM | every evening |
t.i.d. | three times a day |