Digestive System: Diseases, Conditions, and Procedures

Question 1

gastroenterology

Answer 1

branch of medicine concerned with digestive diseases

Question 2

gastroenterologist

Answer 2

the physician who specializes in diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders (but does not perform surgeries)

Question 3

anorexia

Answer 3

lack or loss of appetite, resulting in the inability to eat

Question 4

appendicitis

Answer 4

inflammation of the appendix, usually caused by obstruction or infection

Question 5

ascites

Answer 5

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity

Question 6

borborygmus

Answer 6

rumbling or gurgling noises that are audible at a distance

Question 7

cachexia

Answer 7

physical wasting that includes loss of weight and muscle mass

Question 8

cholelithiasis

Answer 8

gallstones in the gallbladder

Question 9

cirrhosis

Answer 9

abnormal yellowing of the skin as a result of liver disease

Question 10

Crohn disease

Answer 10

(also called regional enteritis)
form of inflammatory bowl disease (IBD), usually of the ileum but might affect any part of the intestinal tract

Question 11

dysentery

Answer 11

inflammation of the intestine caused by water or food that contains parasites, chemical irritants, or bacteria

Question 12

flatus

Answer 12

gas in the GI tract expelled from a body orifice, usually the anus

Question 13

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Answer 13

backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus as a result of a malfunction of the cardiac sphincter muscle

Question 14

halitosis

Answer 14

foul-smelling breath

Question 15

hematemesis

Answer 15

vomiting of blood

Question 16

hemorrhoids

Answer 16

swollen varicose veins in the anorectal region

Question 17

intestinal obstruction

Answer 17

mechanical or functional blockage of the intestines

Question 18

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Answer 18

(also called spastic colon)
symptom complex marked by abdominal pain and altered bowel function for which no organic cause can be determined

Question 19

malabsorption syndrome

Answer 19

the impaired passage of nutrients, minerals, or fluids through the intestine into the blood

Question 20

melena

Answer 20

dark, tarlike feces that contain digested blood from bleeding in the esophagus or stomach

Question 21

obesity

Answer 21

excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body’s skeletal and physical standards

Question 22

morbid obesity

Answer 22

obesity in which body mass index is greater than 40 (about 100 lb over ideal body weight)

Question 23

obstipation

Answer 23

severe constipation, which may be caused by intestinal obstruction

Question 24

oral leukoplakia

Answer 24

formation of white spots or patches on the mucous membrane of the tongue, lips, or cheek

Question 25

pancreatitis

Answer 25

inflammation of the pancreas

Question 26

pyloric stenosis

Answer 26

stricture or narrowing of the pyloric sphincter

Question 27

regurgitation

Answer 27

a backward flow, as in return of solids or fluids to the mouth from the stomach

Question 28

ulcerative colitis

Answer 28

(one of the principal types of inflammatory bowel disease)
chronic inflammatory disease of the colon

Question 29

gastrointestinal endoscopy

Answer 29

visual examination of the gastrointestinal tract

Question 30

hepatitis panel

Answer 30

panel of blood tests that identifies the specific virus that is causing hepatitis

Question 31

liver function tests (LFTs)

Answer 31

blood tests that evaluate liver function

Question 32

serum bilirubin

Answer 32

measurement of the level of bilirubin in the blood

Question 33

stool culture

Answer 33

test to identify microorganisms present in feces

Question 34

stool guaiac

Answer 34

(also called hemoccult)
test to detect the presence of occult* blood in the feces

*occult: hidden

Question 35

lower gastrointestinal series

Answer 35

(also called lower GI series or barium enema)
radiographic images of the lower GI tract after giving the patient barium

Question 36

oral cholecystography (OCG)

Answer 36

radiographic images taken of the gallbladder after the administration of a contrast material

Question 37

magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)

Answer 37

special MRI technique that produces images of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and all the surrounding ducts

Question 38

abdominal ultrasound

Answer 38

ultrasound visualization of the abdomen

Question 39

endoscopic ultrasound

Answer 39

combination of endoscopy and ultrasound that examines the digestive tracts and surrounding tissues and organs

Question 40

upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS)

Answer 40

(also called barium swallow)
radiographic images of the upper GI tracts after giving the patient barium

Question 41

ileorectal anastomosis

Answer 41

surgical connection of the ileum and rectum

Question 42

intestinal anastomosis

Answer 42

surgical connection of two portions of the intestines

Question 43

appendectomy

Answer 43

excision of the appendix

Question 44

open appendectomy

Answer 44

excision of the appendix through an incision in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen

Question 45

laparoscopic appendectomy

Answer 45

minimally invasive appendectomy using three small abdominal incisions

Question 46

bariatric surgery

Answer 46

surgery that reduces stomach size to treat morbid obesity

Question 47

vertical banded gastroplasty

Answer 47

bariatric surgery that involves vertical stapling of the upper stomach near the esophagus to reduce its size

Question 48

roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB)

Answer 48

(also called gastric bypass with gastroenterostomy)
bariatric surgery that involves stapling the stomach to reduce its size and shortening the jejunum to decrease the pathway of food through the intestine, which reduces the absorption of calories and fats