Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders Practice Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical findings, and medical interventions for major gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic disorders as discussed in the lecture transcript.

Vermiform appendix

A small, wormlike appendage about $3\text{ to } 4\text{ in}$ ($8\text{ to } 10\text{ cm}$) long that is attached to the cecum just below the ileocecal valve.

Fecalith

A hard fecal mass that can kink or occlude the appendix, leading to inflammation and appendicitis.

McBurney point

The specific site in the right lower quadrant where sharp, discrete, and well-localized parietal pain is typically felt during the progression of appendicitis.

Rovsing sign

A diagnostic indicator where pain is felt in the right lower quadrant when pressure is applied to the left lower quadrant.

Psoas sign

Abdominal pain that occurs when the patient flexes the hip while pressure is applied to the knee.

Obturator sign

Abdominal pain that occurs when the hip is rotated, used as a physical finding for appendicitis.

Portal pylephlebitis

A major complication of appendicitis involving septic thrombosis of the portal vein caused by vegetative emboli from septic intestines.

Peritonitis

Inflammation and infection of the peritoneum, the serosal membrane lining the abdominal cavity, which can be primary, secondary, or tertiary.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder, which can be acute or chronic, causing pain, tenderness, and rigidity in the upper right abdomen.

Biliary colic

Excruciating upper right abdominal pain that radiates to the back or right shoulder, usually associated with nausea and vomiting several hours after a heavy meal.

Murphy sign

Tenderness over the gallbladder that increases on inspiration, often indicative of cholecystitis.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)

A pharmacologic therapy used to dissolve small, radiolucent gallstones by inhibiting the synthesis and secretion of cholesterol.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

A procedure using a fiberoptic endoscope inserted through the esophagus to the duodenum to visualize the hepatobiliary system and extract ductal stones.

Jaundice (Icterus)

Yellow discoloration of the skin and sclerae indicating excessive levels of bilirubin in the blood, occurring in prehepatic, hepatic, and posthepatic forms.

Acute Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas characterized by autodigestion of the organ by its own proteolytic enzymes, principally trypsin.

Cullen sign

A bluish periumbilical discoloration that may indicate severe, hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

Turner sign

A bluish discoloration of the flank area associated with severe pancreatitis.

Steatorrhea

Frequent, frothy, and foul-smelling stools with high fat content, commonly seen in chronic pancreatitis or malabsorption syndromes.

Ranson Criteria

A scoring system used to predict the mortality of patients with pancreatitis based on clinical and laboratory data upon and within $48\text{ hours}$ of admission.

Celiac Disease

A malabsorption disorder caused by an autoimmune response to gluten, resulting in inflammation and denudation of the mucosal villi of the small intestine.

Dermatitis herpetiformis

A skin rash associated with celiac disease that manifests as clusters of erythematous macules developing into itchy papules and vesicles.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

A disorder of gut-brain interaction marked by muscle spasms, abdominal discomfort, bloating, and altered bowel motility without a single known cause.

FODMAPs

Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols; a diet low in these is used to help control IBS symptoms.

Bristol Stool Scale

A guide used to define subtypes of IBS by describing seven different types of stool, from separate hard lumps to entirely liquid.

Crohn Disease (Regional Enteritis)

A chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by transmural inflammation, skip lesions, and a cobblestone appearance of the affected bowel.

Skip lesions

Diseased bowel segments that are sharply demarcated by adjoining areas of normal bowel tissue, a hallmark of Crohn disease.

Ulcerative Colitis

A chronic inflammatory disease characterized by contiguous superficial mucosal ulcerations, diffuse inflammation, and bloody diarrhea starting in the rectum.

Toxic megacolon

A complication of ulcerative colitis where inflammation extends to the muscularis, causing colonic distention and inhibiting its ability to contract.

Infliximab

An anti-TNF monoclonal antibody medication used to induce and maintain remission in both Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)

A marker of active HBV replication and infection found on the viral surface.

Sustained Virologic Response (SVR)

The absence of detectable virus $12\text{ weeks}$ after completion of treatment, indicating a cure for Hepatitis C infection.

Fulminant Hepatitis

The most severe and rare complication of hepatitis, involving acute liver necrosis or acute hepatic failure with high mortality.