Disorders and Diseases of the Digestive System

Vocabulary flashcards covering disorders, diseases, causes, and treatments of the digestive system from Science 8 Biology.

Diarrhea

A disorder characterized by watery fecal execration or loose bowel, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, or fever, caused by microbial infections or contaminated food and water.

Constipation

A disorder characterized by hard, dry stool, and bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass.

Irritable bowel syndrome

A condition in which a person alternately experiences diarrhea and constipation, caused by stress, allergies, and insufficient intake of dietary fiber.

Lactose intolerance

The inability of the body to absorb sugar, caused by a deficiency in the enzyme lactase which breaks down sugar.

Lactase

An enzyme that breaks down sugar, a deficiency of which causes lactose intolerance.

Hemorrhoids

A condition occurring when the walls of the rectum and anus are stretch so thin when eliminating tools causing the rectal blood vessels to be inflamed and swoleen.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

A disease in which the ingested food leaks back from the stomach into the esophagus due to an abnormal backflow of acids from the stomach upwards into the esophagus.

Peptic ulcer

Open sores in the digestive walls or lining, caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

A bacterium that causes peptic ulcers and can also cause gastritis.

Colon cancer

The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the large intestines.

Radiotherapy

A colon cancer treatment involving the use of high energy x-rays.

Chemotherapy

A colon cancer treatment involving the use of very stong drugs that kill or stop abnormal cells from dividing.

Esophagitis

The inflammation of the esophagus commonly caused by infection.

Gastritis

A disease that causes the inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix that occurs when it is obstructed by a hard stool, foreign body, or cancer cells.

Fecalith

A hard stool obstruction that acts as a cause of appendicitis.

Lymphoid Hyperplasia

An obstruction cause of appendicitis that leads to the accumulation of appendix secretions, organ enlargement, and bacterial accumulation resulting in infection.