HOSA Medical Terminology - The Digestive System

an/o

anus, ring

chol/e

bile, gall

col/o, colon/o

colon, large intestine

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

-emesis

vomiting

enter/o

small intestine

esophag/o

esophagus

gastr/o

stomach, belly

hepat/o

liver

-lithiasis

presence of stones

-pepsia

digest, digestion

-phagia

eating, swallowing

proct/o

anus and rectum

rect/o

rectum, straight

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

aerophagia (ay-er-oh-FAY-jee-ah)

excessive swallowing of air while eating or drinking

anastomosis (ah-nas-toh-MOH-sis)

a surgical connection between two hollow or tubular structures

antiemetic (an-tih-ee-MET-ick)

medication administered to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting

aphthous ulcers (AF-thus UL-serz)

aka canker sores; small, painful, round ulcers in the oral mucosa of unknown cause

ascites (ah-SIGH-teez)

an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity

bariatrics (bayr-ee-AT-ricks)

the branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and control of obesity and associated diseases

borborygmus (bor-boh-RIG-mus)

the rumbling noise caused by the movement of gas in the intestine

cachexia (kah-KEKS-eeh-ah)

a condition of physical wasting away due to the loss of weight and muscle mass that occurs in patients with diseases such as advanced cancer or AIDS

celiac disease (SEE-lee-ak)

an inherited autoimmune disorder characterized by a severe reaction to foods containing gluten

cheilosis (kee-LOH-sis)

aka cheilitis, a disorder of the lips characterized by crack-like sores at the corners of the mouth

cholangiography (koh-LAN-jee-og-rah-fee)

a radiographic examination of the bile ducts with the use of a contrast medium

cholangitis (koh-lan-JIGH-tis)

an acute inflammation of the bile duct characterized by pain in the upper-right quadrant of the abdomen, fever, and jaundice

cholecystectomy (koh-luh-sis-TECK-toh-mee)

surgical removal of the gallbladder

cholecystitis (koh-luh-sis-TYE-tis)

inflammation of the gallbladder that is usually associated with gallstones

choledocholithotomy (koh-led-oh-koh-lih-THOT-oh-mee)

incision into the common bile duct to remove a stone

cholelithiasis (koh-luh-lih-THIGH-ah-sis)

the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder or bile ducts

cirrhosis (sih-ROH-sis)

a chronic degenerative disease of the liver characterized by scarring

colonoscopy (koh-lun-OSS-koh-pee)

direct visual examination of the inner surface of the colon from the rectum to the cecum

colostomy (koh-LAHS-toh-mee)

the surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface

Crohn's disease (KROHNZ)

a chronic autoimmune disorder that can occur anywhere in the digestive tract; however, it is most often found in the ileum and in the colon

dental prophylaxis (proh-fih-LACK-sis)

the professional cleaning of the teeth to remove plaque and calculus

diverticulitis (dye-ver-tick-you-LYE-tis)

inflammation or infection of one or more diverticula in the wall of the colon

diverticulosis (dye-ver-tick-you-LOH-sis)

the chronic presence of an abnormal number of diverticula in the colon

dyspepsia (dis-PEP-see-ah)

pain or discomfort in digestion; also known as indigestion

dysphagia (dis-FAY-jee-ah)

difficulty swallowing

enema (EH-neh-ma)

the placement of a solution into the rectum and colon to empty the lower intestine through bowel activity

enteritis (en-ter-EYE-tis)

inflammation of the small intestine caused by eating or drinking substances contaminated with viral or bacterial pathogens

eructation (eh-ruk-TAY-shun)

the act of belching or raising gas orally from the stomach

esophageal varices (eh-sof-ah-JEE-al VAYR-ih-seez)

enlarged and swollen veins at the lower end of the esophagus

esophagogastroduodenoscopy (eh-sof-ah-goh-gas-troh-dew-oh-deh-NOS-koh-pee)

visual examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum

gastroduodenostomy (gas-troh-dew-oh-deh-NOS-toh-mee)

making a new opening between the stomach and duodenum

gastroesophageal reflux disease (gas-troh-eh-sof-ah-JEE-al REE-flucks)

the upward flow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus

gastrostomy tube (gas-TROS-toh-mee)

a surgically placed feeding tube from the exterior of the body directly into the stomach

hematemesis (hee-mah-TEM-eh-sis)

vomiting blood

Hemoccult test (HEE-moh-kult)

a laboratory test for hidden blood in the stools

hepatitis (hep-ah-TYE-tis)

inflammation of the liver usually caused by a viral infection

herpes labialis (HER-peez lay-bee-AL-iss)

blister-like sores on the lips and adjacent facial tissue that are caused by the oral herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1); also known as cold sores or fever blisters

hiatal hernia (high-AY-tal HER-nee-ah)

the protrusion of part of the stomach through an opening in the diaphragm

hyperemesis (high-per-EM-eh-sis)

extreme, persistent vomiting that can cause dehydration

ileus (ILL-ee-us)

the partial or complete blockage of the small and/or large intestine

inguinal hernia (ING-gwih-nal HER-nee-ah)

the protrusion of a small loop of bowel through a weak place in the lower abdominal wall or groin

jaundice (JAWN-dis)

a yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and the eyes

leukoplakia (loo-koh-PLAY-kee-ah)

an abnormal white precancerous lesion that develops inside the mouth in response to chronic irritation

melena (meh-LEE-nah)

the passage of black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools

morbid obesity (MOR-bid oh-BEE-sih-tee)

the condition of weighing two to three times, or more, than the ideal weight; also known as clinically severe obesity

nasogastric intubation (nay-zoh-GAS-trick in-too-BAY-shun)

insertion of a tube through the nose into the stomach

obesity (oh-BEE-sih-tee)

an excessive accumulation of fat in the body

palatoplasty (PAL-ah-toh-plas-tee)

surgical repair of the roof of the mouth

peptic ulcers (UL-serz)

sores that affect the mucous membranes of the digestive system

peristalsis (pehr-ih-STAL-sis)

a series of wave-like contractions of the smooth muscles in a single direction that moves the food forward into the digestive system

polyp (POL-up)

a mushroom-like growth from the surface of a mucous membrane

proctologist (prock-TOL-oh-jist)

a physician who specializes in disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus

regurgitation (ree-gur-jih-TAY-shun)

the return of swallowed food into the mouth

salmonellosis (sal-moh-nel-LOH-sis)

an infectious disease transmitted by feces, either through direct contact or by eating contaminated raw or undercooked food

sigmoidoscopy (sig-moi-DOS-koh-pee)

the endoscopic examination of the interior of the rectum, sigmoid colon, and possibly a portion of the descending colon

stomatitis (stoh-mah-TYE-tis)

inflammation of the mouth

trismus (TRIZ-mus)

any restriction to the opening of the mouth caused by trauma, surgery, or radiation associated with the treatment of oral cancer

ulcerative colitis (UL-ser-ay-tiv koh-LYE-tis)

chronic inflammation of the colon with presence of ulcers

volvulus (VOL-view-lus)

twisting of the intestine on itself, causing an obstruction

xerostomia (zeer-oh-STOH-mee-ah)

the lack of adequate saliva due to diminished secretions by the salivary glands