Definition then Word Flashcards
Lack or loss of appetite, resulting in the inability to eat.
Anorexia
Inflammation of the appendix, usually due to obstruction or infection.
Appendicitis
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.
Ascites
Rumbling or gurgling noises that are audible at a distance and caused by passage of gas through the liquid contents of the intestine.
Borborygmus
Physical wasting that includes loss of weight and muscle mass; commonly associated with AIDS and cancer.
Cachexia
Presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder or common bile duct.
Cholelithiasis
Scarring and dysfunction of the liver caused by chronic liver disease.
Cirrhosis
Spasm in any hollow or tubular soft organ especially in the colon, accompanied by pain.
Colic
Chronic inflammation, usually of the ileum, but possibly affecting any portion of the intestinal tract; also called regional enteritis.
Crohn Disease
Act of swallowing.
Deglutition
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.
Dysentery
Epigastric discomfort felt after eating; also called indigestion.
Dyspepsia
Inability or difficulty in swallowing; also called aphasia.
Dysphagia
Producing gas from the stomach, usually with a characteristic sound; also called belching.
Eructation
Fecal concretion
Fecalith
Gas in the GI tract; expelling of air from a body orifice, especially the anus.
Flatus
Backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus due to a malfunction of the sphincter muscle at the inferior portion of the esophagus.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Offensive, or bad breath.
Halitosis
Vomiting of blood from bleeding in the stomach or esophagus.
Hematemesis
Symtom complex marked by abdominal pain and altered bowel function (typically constipation, diarrhea, or alternation of the two) for which no organic cause can be determined; also called spastic colon.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Symptom complex of the small intestine characterized by the impaired passage of nutrients, minerals, or fluids through intestinal villi into the blood or lymph.
Malabsorption syndrome
Passage of dark-colored, tarry stools, due to presence of blood altered by intestinal juices.
Melena
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.
Obesity
Body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, which is generally 100 or more pounds over ideal body weight.
Morbid obesity
Severe constipation; may be caused by an intestinal obstruction.
Obstipation
Formation of white spots or patches on the mucous membrane of the tongue, lips, or cheek caused primarily by irritation.
Oral leukoplakia
Progressive, wavelike movement that occurs involuntarily in the hollow tubes of the body, especially the GI tract.
Peristalsis
Stricture or narrowing of the pyloric sphincter at the outlet of the stomach, causing an obstruction that blocks the flow of food into the small intestine.
Pyloric stenosis
Backward flowing, as in the return of solids or fluids to the mouth from the stomach.
Regurgitation
Passage of fat in large amounts in the feces due to failure to digest and absorb it.
Steatorrhea
Excision of diseased gingival tissue.
Gingivectomy
Removal of all or part of the tongue.
Glossectomy
Repair of the esophagus.
Esophagoplasty
Removal of part or all of the stomach.
Gastrectomy
Forming an opening between the stomach and jejunum.
Gastrojejunostomy
Excision of (part of ) the esophagus.
Esophagectomy
Forming an opening between the stomach, small intestine, and colon.
Gastroenterocolostomy
Surgical repair of the small intestine.
Enteroplasty
Fixation of the small intestine to the abdominal wall.
Enteropexy
Suture of the bile duct.
Choledochorrhaphy
Creation of an opening between the colon and the abdominal wall.
Colostomy
Fixation of a movable liver to the abdominal wall.
Hepatopexy
Surgical repair of the anus or rectum.
Proctoplasty, rectoplasty
Removal of the gallbladder.
Cholecystectomy
Surgical repair of the common bile duct.
Choledochoplasty
Difficulty breathing.
Dyspnea
An open sore.
Lesion
Surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to another.
Anastomosis
Counteract or neutralize acidity, usually in the stomach.
Antacids
Decrease gastrointestinal spasms by slowing peristalsis and motility throughout the GI tract.
Antispasmodics
Surgery that treats morbid obesity.
Bariatric
Orange-colored or yellowish pigment in bile.
Bilirubin
Agents that produce vomiting.
Emetics
Visual examination of a cavity or canal using a specialized lighted instrument.
Endoscopy
Visual examination of the stomach.
Gastroscopy
Insertion of a tube into any hollow organ.
Intubation
Treat constipation by increasing peristaltic activity in the large intestine or increasing water and electrolyte secretion into the bowel to induce defecation.
Laxatives
Group of blood tests that evaluate liver injury, liver function, and conditions often associated with the biliary tract.
Liver function tests
Administration of barium enema while a series of radiographs are taken of the large intestine.
Lower GI series
Endoscopic procedure for visualization of the rectosigmoid colon.
Proctosigmoidoscopy
Percutaneous transhepatic cholangeography.
PTCH
Immediately
Stat
Applying a substance called guaiac to a stool sample to detect presence of occult blood in the feces; also called hemoccult.
Stool guaiac
Surgical reconstruction of the mouth.
Stomatoplasty
Test that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to analyze the reflected echos from anatomical structures and convert them into an image on a video monitor; also called ultrasound, sonography, echo, and echogram.
Ultrasonography
Barium solution swallowed for radiographic examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
Upper GI series
