DSA: Medical Terminology

Question 1

Acholic

Answer 1

Absence of secretion of bile (acholic stools are clay colored)

Question 2

Borborygmi

Answer 2

Rumbling noise caused by propulsion of gas thru intestines

Question 3

Colic

Answer 3

Acute paroxysmal abdominal pain

Question 4

Courvoisier’s sign

Answer 4

Enlarged non-tender gallbladder secondary to pancreatic disease or cancer

Question 5

Cullen Sign

Answer 5

Ecchymosis around the umbilicus secondary to hemorrhage

Question 6

Dysplasia

Answer 6

Abnormal tissue development, alteration in size, shape, and organization of cells

Question 7

Eructation

Answer 7

Expulsion of swallowed air, aka burping!

Question 8

Gastropathy

Answer 8

Gastric condition where there is endothelial damage WITHOUT inflammation

Question 9

Grey Turner sign

Answer 9

Flank ecchymosis secondary to hemorrhage

Question 10

Globus pharyngeus

Answer 10

Foreign body sensation localized in the neck that does NOT interfere w/ swallowing and sometimes is relieved w/ swallowing. Often occurs in the setting of anxiety or OCD. Clinical experience teaches that it is often attributable to GERD

Question 11

Obstipation

Answer 11

Severe intractable constipation caused by intestinal obstruction

Question 12

Pneumobilia, Pneumomediastinum, and Pneumoperitoneum

Answer 12

Pneumobilia: gas in the biliary system/bile ducts

Pneumomediastinum: air or gas in the mediastinum, may interfere w/ circulation (lead to pneumonia or pneuopericardium), occur spontaneous or due to trauma, pathology, or after diagnostic procedure

Pneumoperitoneum: air or gas in the peritoneal cavity

Question 13

Pyrosis

Answer 13

Substernal burning sensation, aka heartburn

Question 14

What does rebound tenderness test for?

Answer 14

Peritoneal inflammation

Question 15

Retching

Answer 15

Peristalsis of stomach and esophagus conducted w/ a closed glottis

Question 16

Tenesmus

Answer 16

Ineffectual and painful straining at stool (or urination)

Question 17

Ureterolithiasis

Answer 17

Stone from kidney making its way thru ureter to bladder, urine analysis will show hematuria

Question 18

Virchow’s node

Answer 18

Palpable mass, lymph node, in the left supraclavicular/sternoclavicular fossa

Question 19

Coffee Ground Emesis

Answer 19

blood congealed and separated within gastric contents that take form of coffee grounds when in contact w/ acidic environment

Question 20

Cachexia

Answer 20

profound and marked state of constitutional disorder; general ill health and malnutrition

Question 21

Dyspepsia vs Dysphagia

Answer 21

Dyspepsia: postprandial epigastric discomfort
Dyspepsia: difficulty in swallowing

Question 22

ERCP

Answer 22

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Question 23

Guarding

Answer 23

protecting response in muscle resulting from pain/fear of movement, voluntary vs involuntary

Question 24

Hematochezia

Answer 24

bright red blood or maroon stool

Question 25

Melena

Answer 25

dark colored stool consisted w/ broken down hemosiderin in bowel; typically malodorous, sticky, thick like paste, “tarry”

Question 26

UGIB:

Answer 26

upper GI bleeding

Question 27

Ulcer

Answer 27

local defect, or excavation, of organ surface/tissue, produced by shedding of inflamed necrotic tissue

Question 28

Ureterolithiasis

Answer 28

kidney stone moving way thru ureter to bladder, UA shows hematuria

Question 29

Virchow’s Node

Answer 29

palpable mass, LN, in left supraclavicular/sternoclavicular fossa
-take their supply from lymph vessels in the abdominal cavity, and are therefore sentinel lymph nodes of cancer in the abdomen, particularly gastric, ovarian, testicular and kidney cancer, that has spread through the lymph vessels, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma