Medical Terminology Chapter 6 Digestive System

bilirubin

orange-yellow pigment formed during destruction of erythrocytes that is taken up by liver cells and eventually excreted in the feces

bolus

mass of masticated food ready for swallowing

exocrine

type of gland that secretes its products through excretory ducts to the surface of an organ or tissue or into a vessel

sphincter

circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening

triglycerides

organic compound, a true fat, that is made of one glycerol and three fatty acids

or/o, stomat/o

mouth

gloss/o, lingu/o

tongue

bucc/o

cheek

cheil/o, labi/o

lip

dent/o, odont/o

teeth

gingvi/o

gum

sial/o

saliva, salivary gland

esophag/o

esophagus

pharyng/o

pharynx (throat)

gastr/o

stomach

pylor/o

pylorus

duoden/o

duodenum (first part of small intestine)

enter/o

intestine

jejun/o

jejunum

ile/o

ileum

append/o, appendic/o

appendix

oral

pertaining to the mouth

stomatitis

inflammation of the mouth

glossectomy

removal of the tongue

lingual

pertaining to the tongue

buccal

pertaining to the cheek

cheiloplasty

surgical repair of the lips

labial

pertaining to the lip

dentist

specialist in teeth

orthodontist

dentist specializing in straightening teeth

orth

straight

gingivectomy

surgical removal of gum tissue

sialolith

stone in the salivary gland

pharyngotonsillitis

inflammation of the pharynx and tonsils

pylorospasm

involuntary contraction of the pyloric sphincter

jejunorrhaphy

suture of the jejunum

ileostomy

creation of an artificial opening into the ileum

col/o, colon/o

colon

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

rect/o

rectum

proct/o

anus and rectum

an/o

anus

hepat/o

liver

pancreat/o

pancreas

cholangi/o

bile vessel

chol/e

bile, gall

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

-emesis

vomit

-megaly

enlargement

-orexia

appetite

-pepsia

digestion

-phagia

swallowing, eating

-prandial

meal

-rrhea

discharge, flow through

rectocele

hernia of the rectum

-cele

hernia

pancreatolysis

destruction of the pancreas

perianal

pertaining to around the anus

cholangiole

small bile vessel

cholelith

gallstone

hyperemesis

excessive vomiting

cholelithiasis

abnormal condition of gallstones in the gallbladder

anorexia

without appetite

dyspepsia

difficult digestion

aerophagia

swallowing air

aer/o

air

postprandial

after a meal

steatorrhea

fat in the feces

dia-

through, across

peri-

around

sub-

under, below

appendicitis

inflammation of the appendix, usually due to obstruction or infection

ascites

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, usually as a result of chronic liver failure

borborygmus

rumbling or gurgling noises that are audible at a distance and caused by passage of gas through the liquid contents of the intestine

cachexia

physical wasting that includes loss of weight and muscle mass and is commonly associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cancer

cholelithiasis

the presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder or bile ducts

cirrhosis

scarring and dysfunction of the liber caused by chronic liver failure

Crohn disease

form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), usually of the ileum but possibly affecting any portion of the intestinal tract; also called regional enteritis

dysentery

inflammation of the intestine, especially the colon, that may be caused by ingesting water or food containing chemical irritants, bacteria, protozoa, or parasites and results in bloody diarrhea

flatus

gas in the GI tract; expelling of air from a body orifice, especially the anus

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus due to a malfunction of the sphincter muscle at the inferior portion of the esophagus

halitosis

foul-smelling breath

hematemesis

vomiting blood

hemorrhoids

swollen varicose veins in the anorectal region categorized as external or internal

intestinal obstruction

mechanical or functional blockage of the intestines that occurs when the contents of the intestine cannot move forward through the intestinal tract because of a partial or complete blockage of the bowel

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

symptom complex marked by abdominal pain and altered bowel function (typically constipation, diarrhea, or alternating constipation and diarrhea) for which no organic cause can be determined; also called spastic colon

malabsorption syndrome

symptom complex of the small intestine characterized by the impaired passage of nutrients, minerals, or fluids through intestinal villi into the blood or lymph

melena

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

obesity

excessive accumulation of body fat

morbid obesity

body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, which is generally 100 or more pounds over ideal body weight

obstipation

severe constipation, which may be caused by an intestinal obstruction

oral leukoplakia

formation of white spots or patches on the mucous membrane of the tongue, lips, or cheek caused primarily by irritation

pyloric stenosis

stricture or narrowing of the pyloric sphincter (circular muscle of the pylorus) at the outlet of the stomach, causing an obstruction that blocks the flow of food into the small intestine

regurgitation

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

ulcerative colitis

chronic inflammatory disease of the colon, commonly beginning in the rectum or sigmoid colon and extending upward into the entire colon

hepatitis panel

Panel of blood tests that identifies the specific virus—hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), or hepatitis C (HCV)—that is causing hepatitis by testing serum using antibodies to each of these antigens

liver function test

group of blood tests that evaluate liver injury, liver function, and conditions commonly associated with the biliary tract

serum bilirubin

measurement of the level of bilirubin in the blood

stool culture

test to identify microorganisms or parasites present in feces that are causing a gastrointestinal infection

CT (computed tomography)

imaging technique that rotates an x-ray emitter around the area to be scanned and measures the intensity of transmitted rays from different angles