Gastrointestinal, Renal & Haematology Disorders – Key Vocabulary

100 vocabulary flashcards summarising essential terms from the lecture series on gastrointestinal, renal and haematological disorders.

Upper Gastrointestinal (GIT) Bleeding

Blood loss occurring proximal to the ligament of Treitz (oesophagus, stomach, duodenum).

Lower GIT Bleeding

Bleeding distal to the ligament of Treitz (jejunum to rectum).

Haematemesis

Vomiting of bright-red blood or coffee-ground material from the upper GIT.

Melaena

Black, tarry, foul-smelling stool produced by digested blood.

Haematochezia

Passage of bright-red blood or clots per rectum.

Esophageal Varices

Dilated submucosal veins in the lower oesophagus caused by portal hypertension, prone to massive bleeding.

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)

Break in mucosal integrity of oesophagus, stomach or duodenum due to acid–pepsin corrosion.

Gastric Ulcer

Peptic ulcer in the stomach; pain typically worsens with food intake.

Duodenal Ulcer

Peptic ulcer in the first part of the duodenum; pain relieved by eating but recurs 2–3 h later or at night.

Stress Ulcer

Multiple shallow gastric/duodenal lesions developing after severe illness, trauma or surgery.

Gastro-oesophageal Reflux (GOR)

Retrograde movement of gastric contents into the oesophagus.

Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)

Chronic, symptomatic reflux (>2× week) causing mucosal damage or troublesome symptoms.

Lower Oesophageal Sphincter (LOS)

Circular smooth muscle at gastro-oesophageal junction that prevents reflux.

Barrett’s Oesophagus

Intestinal-type columnar metaplasia of distal oesophagus; premalignant for adenocarcinoma.

Hiatal Hernia

Protrusion of stomach through the diaphragmatic oesophageal hiatus into the thorax.

Sliding Hiatal Hernia

Type I hernia where gastro-oesophageal junction and cardia slide upward through hiatus.

Para-oesophageal (Rolling) Hernia

Type II hernia in which gastric fundus herniates beside the oesophagus while junction remains below diaphragm.

Acute Gastritis

Rapid-onset inflammation and erosions of the gastric mucosa, often due to NSAIDs, alcohol or stress.

Chronic Gastritis

Persistent gastric mucosal inflammation leading to atrophy and intestinal metaplasia.

Type A (Autoimmune) Gastritis

Chronic gastritis caused by auto-antibodies against parietal cells and intrinsic factor.

Type B (Bacterial) Gastritis

Chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori

Spiral Gram-negative bacterium implicated in gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer.

Mallory-Weiss Tear

Longitudinal mucosal laceration at the gastro-oesophageal junction following forceful vomiting.

Intestinal Obstruction

Impediment to forward propulsion of intestinal contents.

Hernia (GI)

Protrusion of bowel through a weakness or defect in the abdominal wall.

Intussusception

Telescoping of one segment of intestine into another, causing obstruction and ischaemia.

Volvulus

Twisting of bowel around its mesenteric axis, leading to obstruction and strangulation.

Diverticulum

Out-pouching of mucosa through the muscular layer of the colon.

Diverticulosis

Presence of multiple colonic diverticula without inflammation.

Diverticulitis

Inflammation or infection of a diverticulum, often due to faecolith obstruction.

Ulcerative Colitis

Chronic continuous mucosal inflammation of the colon starting in the rectum.

Crohn’s Disease

Transmural, segmental inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the GI tract.

Cobblestone Mucosa

Endoscopic appearance of deep linear ulcers and fissures between edematous mucosa in Crohn’s disease.

Toxic Megacolon

Acute, potentially fatal dilation of the colon, usually a complication of ulcerative colitis.

Barrett’s Adenocarcinoma

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma arising from Barrett’s metaplasia.

Colonoscopy

Endoscopic examination of the entire colon and terminal ileum.

Gastroscopy

Endoscopic inspection of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum.

Orthostatic Hypotension

Drop ≥20 mmHg systolic or ≥10 mmHg diastolic BP on standing, suggesting volume loss.

Law of Laplace (Colon)

Intraluminal pressure is inversely related to radius; explains high pressure in narrow sigmoid colon causing diverticula.

Peptic Ulcer Haemorrhage

GI bleeding from erosion of a vessel within a peptic ulcer.

Stomatitis

Inflammation of the oral mucosa.

Perforation (GI)

Full-thickness breach of intestinal wall causing peritonitis.

Hydroureter

Dilated ureter due to accumulation of urine above an obstruction.

Hydronephrosis

Dilation of renal pelvis and calyces caused by obstruction to urine flow.

Obstructive Uropathy

Structural or functional hindrance to urine flow anywhere along the urinary tract.

Renal Calculus (Kidney Stone)

Crystalline mineral deposit formed in kidneys or urinary tract.

Calcium Oxalate Stone

Most common type of kidney stone composed of calcium oxalate crystals.

Struvite Stone

Magnesium ammonium phosphate stone associated with urease-positive urinary infections.

Uric Acid Stone

Radiolucent kidney stone forming in persistently acidic urine, associated with gout or cell lysis.

Renal Colic

Severe flank pain radiating to groin caused by acute ureteric obstruction from a stone.

Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN)

Death of renal tubular epithelial cells leading to intrinsic acute kidney injury.

Ischaemic ATN

Tubular injury resulting from prolonged renal hypoperfusion or hypotension.

Nephrotoxic ATN

Tubular injury caused by toxic agents such as aminoglycosides or radiocontrast media.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Abrupt decline in kidney function within hours to days, often reversible.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Progressive, irreversible loss of renal function lasting ≥3 months.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

Volume of plasma filtered by the glomeruli per minute; key measure of kidney function.

KDIGO

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes – international guidelines for AKI and CKD classification.

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

CKD stage 5 with GFR <15 mL/min/1.73 m² or need for dialysis/transplant.

Fractional Excretion of Sodium (FENa)

Percentage of filtered sodium excreted; helps distinguish prerenal azotaemia from ATN.

Hyperkalaemia

Serum potassium concentration >5.5 mmol/L.

Tumour Lysis Syndrome

Metabolic emergency caused by rapid lysis of malignant cells releasing K⁺, PO₄³⁻ and uric acid.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the urinary bladder, typically bacterial.

Pyelonephritis

Bacterial infection of renal pelvis and parenchyma.

Vesicoureteral Reflux

Retrograde flow of urine from bladder to ureter/kidney, predisposing to infection.

Bacteriuria

Presence of bacteria in the urine, symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Overactive Bladder

Urgency with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia.

Stress Incontinence

Urine leakage during increased intra-abdominal pressure (e.g., coughing, sneezing).

Prerenal Azotaemia

Elevation of blood urea/creatinine due to decreased renal perfusion.

Haematuria

Presence of blood in urine (gross or microscopic).

Peritoneal Dialysis

Renal replacement therapy using the peritoneal membrane for solute and fluid exchange.

Haemodialysis

Extracorporeal filtration of blood across a dialyser to remove waste and excess fluid.

Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula

Surgically created connection between artery and vein for long-term haemodialysis access.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Renal hormone that stimulates red-blood-cell production in bone marrow.

Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System (RAAS)

Hormonal cascade regulating blood pressure and fluid balance.

Anaemia

Decrease in oxygen-carrying capacity of blood due to low haemoglobin or RBC count.

Iron-Deficiency Anaemia

Microcytic, hypochromic anaemia caused by depleted iron stores.

Pernicious Anaemia

Macrocytic anaemia due to vitamin B₁₂ deficiency from intrinsic-factor loss.

Folate-Deficiency Anaemia

Macrocytic anaemia resulting from inadequate folic-acid intake or absorption.

Aplastic Anaemia

Bone-marrow failure leading to pancytopenia of RBCs, WBCs and platelets.

Sickle-Cell Disease

Inherited disorder with HbS that polymerises under hypoxia, causing sickled RBCs.

Vaso-occlusive Crisis

Painful episode in sickle-cell disease due to microvascular blockage by sickled cells.

Thalassaemia

Genetic disorder with reduced synthesis of α- or β-globin chains causing microcytic anaemia.

Polycythaemia Vera

Myeloproliferative neoplasm with increased RBC mass and blood viscosity.

Leukaemia

Malignant proliferation of haemopoietic cells in bone marrow and blood.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)

Rapidly progressing leukaemia of myeloid lineage; Auer rods often present.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)

Acute leukaemia of lymphoid precursors, most common in children.

Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML)

Myeloproliferative disease driven by BCR-ABL fusion kinase.

Philadelphia Chromosome

t(9;22) chromosomal translocation producing BCR-ABL fusion protein.

Blast Crisis

Transformation phase of CML with >20 % blasts, resembling acute leukaemia.

Lymphoma

Malignant proliferation of lymphocytes in lymphoid tissues forming solid tumours.

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Lymphoma characterised by Reed–Sternberg cells and often curable.

Reed–Sternberg Cell

Large binucleated B-cell with “owl-eye” nuclei pathognomonic for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Diverse group of lymphoid malignancies lacking Reed–Sternberg cells.

B-Symptoms

Systemic symptoms of fever, night sweats and weight loss seen in lymphomas.

Thrombocytopenia

Platelet count below 150 × 10⁹ /L, increasing bleeding risk.

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

Autoimmune destruction of platelets leading to isolated thrombocytopenia.

Hemophilia A

Inherited deficiency of clotting factor VIII (X-linked).

Hemophilia B

Factor IX deficiency (“Christmas disease”), clinically similar to Hemophilia A.

von Willebrand Disease

Quantitative or qualitative defect of von Willebrand factor impairing platelet adhesion.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

Pathologic widespread coagulation with consumption of platelets/factors leading to bleeding and microthrombi.