Pathology Digestive & Urinary Test Review

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential digestive and urinary pathology terms and definitions from the lecture notes.

Mastication

The process of chewing food to begin digestion.

Deglutition

The act of swallowing.

Peristalsis

Rhythmic smooth-muscle contractions that propel GI contents.

Bile

Liver-produced emulsifier that aids fat digestion and absorption.

Trypsin

Pancreatic enzyme that breaks down proteins in the small intestine.

Chymotrypsin

Proteolytic enzyme secreted by the pancreas for protein digestion.

Liver

Largest gland in the body; produces bile and many metabolic proteins.

Gallbladder

Pear-shaped organ under the liver that stores and concentrates bile.

Insulin

Hormone released by pancreatic β-cells in response to high blood glucose.

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TE fistula)

Abnormal communication between the esophagus and trachea.

Esophageal atresia

Congenital condition in which the esophagus ends in a blind pouch.

Barrett's esophagus

Metaplastic change from chronic GERD that predisposes to cancer.

Hiatal hernia

Herniation of stomach through the diaphragm; most common upper-GI abnormality.

Esophageal varices

Dilated esophageal veins, usually caused by portal hypertension.

Dysphagia

Difficulty or discomfort in swallowing.

Esophageal carcinoma

Malignancy strongly linked to smoking and excessive alcohol use.

Traction diverticulum

True esophageal diverticulum containing all wall layers.

Zenker's diverticulum

Pulsion diverticulum arising from posterior cervical esophagus.

Epiphrenic diverticulum

Diverticulum located in the distal 10 cm of the esophagus.

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)

Erosion of stomach or duodenal mucosa; top cause of acute GI bleeding.

Duodenal ulcer

Most common manifestation of PUD, occurring in the duodenum.

Crohn's disease (regional enteritis)

Chronic inflammatory disorder often affecting the terminal ileum.

Mechanical small-bowel obstruction

Blockage—most often from fibrous adhesions—preventing intestinal transit.

Adynamic ileus

Non-obstructive failure of intestinal motility causing gaseous distention.

Intussusception

Telescoping of one intestinal segment into another; common in children.

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix; CT is imaging gold standard.

Diverticulosis

Acquired mucosal herniations through colonic wall muscle layers.

Ulcerative colitis

Chronic inflammatory disease causing rigid, haustral-loss colon.

Toxic megacolon

Life-threatening colonic dilation complicating ulcerative colitis.

Ischemic colitis

Colon inflammation due to vascular insufficiency; linked to cardiovascular disease.

Annular carcinoma

Typical constricting (“napkin-ring”) form of primary colon cancer.

Volvulus

Twisting of bowel on itself, producing obstruction.

Hemorrhoids

Varicose veins of the rectum causing pain, itching, and bleeding.

Cholelithiasis

Formation of gallstones—predominantly cholesterol stones in the U.S.

Acute cholecystitis

Inflammation from a gallstone impacted in the cystic duct.

Porcelain gallbladder

Fibrotic, calcified gallbladder resulting from chronic cholecystitis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Primary liver cancer arising in diffuse hepatocellular disease; CT preferred.

Ascites

Peritoneal fluid accumulation, commonly a cirrhosis complication.

Acute pancreatitis

Pancreatic inflammation most often due to excessive alcohol intake.

Pancreatic carcinoma

Malignant tumor best detected with CT imaging.

Pneumoperitoneum

Free intraperitoneal air indicating gastrointestinal perforation.

Pyloric stenosis

Hypertrophic narrowing of pylorus causing gastric outlet obstruction; diagnosed by ultrasound.