Digestive System Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering digestive system anatomy, pathology, clinical tests, procedures, enzymes, and word roots based on lecture notes.

Amylase

An enzyme in saliva that begins the breakdown of starch.

Duodenum

The first part of the small intestine.

Stool Guaiac Test / Hemoccult Test

A test that detects hidden blood in feces.

-prandial

A suffix meaning meal.

Peristalsis

Wavelike involuntary muscle contractions that push food through the esophagus.

Large Intestine

An organ that absorbs water and stores waste.

-stenosis

A suffix meaning narrowing or tightening.

Common Bile Duct

A duct that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum.

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

A condition in which solids and fluids return to the mouth from the stomach.

Steatorrhea

Fat in the feces, producing frothy, foul-smelling stool.

Paracentesis (abdominocentesis)

A surgical puncture to remove fluid from the abdomen.

Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES)

The ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach.

Ileus

Failure of peristalsis causing intestinal obstruction.

Ileum

The third part of the small intestine.

Crohn Disease

Chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract.

Diverticulosis

Abnormal side pockets in the intestinal wall.

Ulcerative Colitis

Chronic inflammation of the colon with ulcers.

Liver

The organ that produces bile and removes toxins.

Appendix

The blind pouch hanging from the cecum.

Cholelithiasis

Gallstones in the gallbladder.

Anus

The muscular opening at the end of the digestive tract.

Lipase

An enzyme that digests fats.

Jejunum

The second part of the small intestine.

Fundus

The proximal part of the stomach.

Sigmoid Colon

The fourth segment of the colon that empties into the rectum.

Protease

An enzyme that digests proteins.

Cirrhosis

Chronic liver disease causing scarring and ascites.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing.

Pylorus

The distal region of the stomach that opens to the duodenum.

Gallbladder

An organ that stores bile until needed.

Pyloric Sphincter

The ring of muscle at the end of the stomach near the duodenum.

Antrum

The medial region of the stomach.

py/o

A combining form meaning pus.

-ase

A suffix meaning enzyme.

Lipase Test

A test that measures a fat-digesting enzyme in the blood.

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

A procedure that visually examines the GI tract.

Peptic Ulcer

An open sore or lesion of the stomach or duodenum.

cec/o

A combining form meaning cecum.

-pepsia

A suffix meaning digestion.

Abdominal Ultrasonography

An imaging procedure using sound waves to view abdominal organs.

proct/o

A combining form meaning anus and rectum.

lingu/o

A combining form meaning tongue.

lip/o or steat/o

Combining forms meaning fat.

cholecyst/o

A combining form meaning gallbladder.

-emesis

A suffix meaning vomiting.

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Stress-related GI symptoms without structural abnormalities.

or/o or stomat/o

Combining forms meaning mouth.

Jaundice

Yellow-orange skin/eye coloration caused by high bilirubin when the liver cannot remove it.

cata-

A prefix meaning breakdown.

prote/o

A combining form meaning protein.