Gastrointestinal Conditions and Diseases Flashcards

Vocabulary-style practice flashcards covering anatomy, risk factors, diagnosis, and management of gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and appendicitis.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder.

Cholelithiasis

Gallstones.

Choledocholithiasis

Gallstones located in the ductal system, specifically the common bile duct.

Classic 5 F's

Risk factors for gallbladder disease: Fat, 40, Fertile, Female, and Family Hx.

Murphy's Sign

A physical exam finding where pressing on the RUQ while the patient takes a deep breath causes them to be unable to complete the breath due to pain.

Gallstones

Pebble-like structures formed in the gallbladder or ductal system (hepatic, common, cystic ducts) when bile hardens.

ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)

A diagnostic scope inserted to the duodenum to inject dye through a catheter for imaging.

Oral Cholecystogram

An X-ray of the gallbladder performed after contrast tablets are taken.

HIDA Scan

A Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid Scan; a nuclear medicine scan where a radioactive tracer is injected into a vein and tracked by a scanner to produce images of bile flow.

Cholecystectomy

Surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Exocrine Tissue (Pancreas)

Pancreatic tissue that secretes digestive enzymes such as amylase and lipase.

Endocrine Tissue (Pancreas)

Pancreatic tissue that secretes hormones, specifically insulin and glucagon, for sugar regulation.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas occurring when digestive enzymes, usually contained within pancreatic ducts, leak into the rest of the pancreas and irritate it.

Bowel Obstruction

Any condition that prevents chyme from flowing through the intestine.

Mechanical Bowel Obstruction

A physical blockage of the bowel, which can be caused by tumors, undigested food, hernias, adhesions, IBD, or volvulus.

Adhesions

Bands that cause the small bowel to stick together, causing mechanical obstruction.

Volvulus

A condition where the bowel twists or kinks over itself.

Intussusception

A functional condition where the bowel kinks or invaginates.

Functional Bowel Obstruction

Bowel obstruction caused by a lack of peristalsis due to factors like recent general anesthesia, infection, medications, or nerve/muscle disorders.

Appendix

A finger-shaped pouch projecting from the colon (cecum) in the RLQ, about the size of a pinky finger, with no known purpose.

McBurney's Point

A site located $\frac{2}{3}$ of the way from the umbilicus to the anterior superior iliac spine where appendicitis pain localizes.

Appendectomy

Surgical removal of the appendix.