Abdomen

Question 1

Aneurysm

Answer 1

Balloon-like swelling of the wall of an artery, vein, or heart; generally the result of a congenital defect in the wall or degenerative disease or infection (atherosclerosis or syphilis); dissecting aneurysm is longitudinal splitting of the arterial wall from hemorrhage

Question 2

Anorexia

Answer 2

Loss of appetite

Question 3

Ascites

Answer 3

Abnormal intraperitoneal accumulation of serous fluid

Question 4

Ballottement

Answer 4

Palpation technique used in detecting or examining a floating object in the body

Question 5

Borborygmi

Answer 5

Gurgling, splashing sound heard over the large intestine; caused by passage of flatus through the intestine

Question 6

Cholecystitis

Answer 6

Inflammation of the gallbladder

Question 7

Cirrhosis

Answer 7

Chronic disease of the liver characterized by fibrosis and alteration of normal liver architecture into structurally abnormal nodules

Question 8

Colic

Answer 8

Spasm in any hollow tubular soft organ accompanied by pain

Question 9

Constipation

Answer 9

Difficult defecation; infrequent defecation with passage of unduly hard dry fecal material; sluggish action of the bowels
Often defined as less than three bowel movements per week

Question 10

Diarrhea

Answer 10

Frequent liquid or loose stools lasting less than four weeks in duration

Question 11

Dyspepsia

Answer 11

Imperfect digestion
Not a disease in itself but symptomatic of other diseases or disorders
Characterized by vague abdominal discomfort, a sense of fullness after eating, eructation, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite

Question 12

Dysphagia

Answer 12

Difficulty in swallowing

Question 13

Fistula

Answer 13

Abnormal tube like passage from a normal cavity or tube to a free surface or to another cavity
May be congenital due to incomplete closure of parts or may result from abscesses, injuries, or inflammatory processes

Question 14

Gastroesophageal reflux

Answer 14

Burning, gnawing pain in mid-epigastrium worsens with recumbency

Question 15

Hematemesis

Answer 15

Vomiting of blood

Question 16

Hematochezia

Answer 16

Passage of stool containing blood

Question 17

Hepatitis

Answer 17

Inflammation of the liver resulting in diffuse or patchy infiltrates

Question 18

Hernia

Answer 18

Protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in the muscle wall

Question 19

Hydronephrosis

Answer 19

Dilation of the renal pelvis and calces due to obstruction

Question 20

Icterus

Answer 20

Pigmentation of the tissues, membranes, and secretions of the eye with bile pigment

Question 21

Intussusception

Answer 21

Prolapse or telescoping of one segment of intestine into another, causing intestinal obstruction

Question 22

Irritable bowel syndrome

Answer 22

Disorder of intestinal motility

Question 23

Jaundice

Answer 23

Condition characterized by yellowness of the skin, mucous membranes, and body fluids due to deposition of bile pigment resulting from excess bilirubin in the blood

Question 24

Kehr sign

Answer 24

Abdominal pain radiating to the left shoulder, due to peritoneal irritation from blood or other irritants

Question 25

Melena

Answer 25

Evacuations resembling tar, due to action of intestinal juices on free blood; tarry feces due to upper abdominal bleeding

Question 26

Mesentery

Answer 26

Fan-shaped fold of peritoneum that holds the small intestine to the abdominal wall

Question 27

Peristalsis

Answer 27

Wavelike motion by which the alimentary tract propels its contents

Question 28

Pyelonephritis

Answer 28

Infection of the kidney

Question 29

Pyloric stenosis

Answer 29

Narrowing of the pyloric orifice
May be due to excessive thickening of the circular muscle of the pylorus or hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the mucosa and submucosa

Question 30

Pylorus

Answer 30

Distal section of the stomach

Question 31

Resonance

Answer 31

Percussion sound obtained when the body part can vibrate freely

Question 32

Reflux

Answer 32

Return or backward flow

Question 33

Striae

Answer 33

Streaks or lines (with a silvery white or purple hue)
Result from weakening of the elastic tissue associated with pregnancy, weight gain, rapid growth periods, and high levels of corticosteroids

Question 34

Tympany

Answer 34

Low pitched, resonant, drum-like sound heard while percussing the surface of a large, air containing body space

Question 35

Volvulus

Answer 35

Twisting of the intestine resulting in obstruction