Medical term digestive system

Gastr/o-

Stomach-Gastritis, Gastrectomy

hepat/o

Liver Hepatitis (inflammation of), hepatoma (tumor of)

Chol/e-

-Gall, bile Cholecystitis, cholecystectomy (inflammation of, removal of gallbladder)

Cyst/o-

Bladder, sac(see above)

Emes/o-

Vomit Emesis (vomiting),

emetic (stimulating vomiting),

antiemetic (stopping vomiting

Lith/o-

Stone

Cholelithotomy (removal of gall stones)

Lapar/o-

Abdominal wall

Laparotomy (cutting into the abdomen)

centesis-

To puncture

Abdominocentesis (puncturing and draining)

tripsy-

To crush

Cholelithotripsy (smashing gall stones with sound waves)

rrhea-

Flow, discharge Diarrhea

iasis(-osis)-

Abnormal condition

Cholelithiasis (presence of gall stones causing symptoms)

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) -

Severe "heartburn" in laymen's language.

Jaundice -

Literally means "yellow" in French. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes from a backup of bile metabolic by-products from the blood into body tissues.

Diverticulosis/diverticulitis -

Small pouches may form along the walls of the large intestine called diverticuli which if symptomatic, causing discomfort to the patient, is called diverticulosis.

Cirrhosis -

A degenerative disease of the liver that often develops in chronic alcoholics, but can have other causes.

Portal hypertension -

A potential complication of chronic alcoholism resulting in liver damage and obstruction of venous blood flow through the liver.

Esophageal varices -

bulging, engorged veins in the walls of the esophagus are often a complication of chronic alcoholism (see portal hypertension).

Dysphagia -

Difficulty swallowing

Crohn's Disease

• a chronic inflammatory disease primarily of the bowel. Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea

Peritonitis -

Inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity.

Gastroenterologist -

a physician specializing in diseases of the digestive system including esophagus, stomach and intestines.

Proctologist -

a physician specializing in diseases of the rectum and anus. Proctology is a surgical subspecialty.

Guaiac test (Hemoccult, Fecult) -

a special chemical test to identify blood in the stool (feces).

Upper GI series -

a series of X-rays of the esophagus and stomach and small intestines having the patient swallow a "milkshake" of barium.

Lower GI series - a series of X-rays using a barium enema to show the large intestine and rectum.

a series of X-rays using a barium enema to show the large intestine and rectum.

Endoscopy -

use of a flexible fiberoptic instrument attached to a video camera that can be used to directly visualize the esophagus, stomach and large bow

Ultrasonography (ultrasound) - a procedure using high frequency sound waves to visualize internal organs.

a procedure using high frequency sound waves to visualize internal organs.