Abdomen_Lab Manual Vocab

Question 1

Aneurysm

Answer 1

Aneurysm: a 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 (example: atherosclerosis or syphilis); dissecting aneurysm is longitudinal splitting of the arterial wall from hemorrhage.

Question 2

Anorexia

Answer 2

Anorexia: loss of appetite.

Question 3

Ascites

Answer 3

Ascites: abnormal intraperitoneal accumulation of serous fluid.

Question 4

Ballottement

Answer 4

Ballottement: a palpation technique used in detecting or examining a floating object in the body.

Question 5

Borborygmi

Answer 5

Borborygmi: a gurgling, splashing sound heard over the large intestine; caused by passage of flatus through the intestine.

Question 6

Cholecystitis

Answer 6

Cholecystitis: inflammation of the gallbladder.

Question 7

Cholelithiasis

Answer 7

Cholelithiasis: stone formation in the gallbladder.

Question 8

Cirrhosis

Answer 8

Cirrhosis: a chronic disease of the liver characterized by fibrosis and alteration of normal liver architecture into structurally abnormal nodules.

Question 9

Colic

Answer 9

Colic: spasm in any hollow tubular soft organ accompanied by pain.

Question 10

Constipation

Answer 10

Constipation: difficult defecation; infrequent defecation with passage of unduly hard dry fecal material; sluggish action of the bowels. Often this is defined as less than three bowel movements per week.

Question 11

Diarrhea

Answer 11

Diarrhea: frequent liquid or loose stools lasting less than four weeks in duration.

Question 12

Dyschezia

Answer 12

Dyschezia: painful or difficult bowel movement.

Question 13

Dyspepsia

Answer 13

Dyspepsia: 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 and vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Question 14

Dysphagia

Answer 14

Dysphagia: difficulty in swallowing.

Question 15

Fistula

Answer 15

Fistula: an 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 16

Gastroesophageal reflux

Answer 16

Gastroesophageal reflux: burning gnawing pain in mid-epigastrium worsens with recumbency.

Question 17

Hematemesis

Answer 17

Hematemesis: vomiting of blood.

Question 18

Hematochezia

Answer 18

Hematochezia: passage of stool containing blood.

Question 19

Hepatitis

Answer 19

Hepatitis: inflammation of the liver resulting on diffuse or patchy infiltrates.

Question 20

Hernia

Answer 20

Hernia: protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in the muscle wall.

Question 21

Hydronephrosis

Answer 21

Hydronephrosis: dilation of the renal pelvis and calces due to obstruction.

Question 22

Icterus

Answer 22

Icterus: pigmentation of the tissues, membranes, and secretions of the eye with bile pigment.

Question 23

Intussusception

Answer 23

Intussusception: prolapse or telescoping of one segment of intestine n into another, causing intestinal obstruction.

Question 24

Irritable bowel syndrome

Answer 24

Irritable bowel syndrome: disorder of intestinal motility.

Question 25

Jaundice

Answer 25

Jaundice: a 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 26

Kehr sign

Answer 26

Kehr sign: abdominal pain radiating to the left shoulder, due to peritoneal irritation from blood or other irritants.

Question 27

Melena

Answer 27

Melena: evacuations resembling tar, due to action of intestinal juices on free blood.

Question 28

Mesentery

Answer 28

Mesentery: fan-shaped fold of peritoneum that holds the small intestine to the abdominal wall.

Question 29

Peristalsis

Answer 29

Peristalsis: the wavelike motion by which the alimentary tract propels its content.

Question 30

Pyelonephritis

Answer 30

Pyelonephritis: infection of the kidney.

Question 31

Pyloric stenosis

Answer 31

Pyloric stenosis: narrowing of the pyloric orifice. This may be due to excessive thickening of the circular muscle of the pylorus or hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the mucosa and submucosa.

Question 32

Pylorus

Answer 32

Pylorus: distal section of the stomach.

Question 33

Resonance

Answer 33

Resonance: a percussion sound obtained when the body part can vibrate freely.

Question 34

Reflux

Answer 34

Reflux: a return or backward flow.

Question 35

Striae

Answer 35

Striae: streaks or lines (with a silvery white or purple hue); skin striae result from weakening of the elastic tissue associated with pregnancy, weight gain, rapid growth periods, and high levels of corticosteroids.

Question 36

Tympany

Answer 36

Tympany: a low pitched, resonant, drumlike sound heard while percussing the surface of a large, air containing body space.

Question 37

Volvulus

Answer 37

Volvulus: twisting of the intestine resulting in obstruction.