Chapter 8: Digestive System

aer/o

air

an/o, proct/o, rect/o

rectum and anus

bar/o

cheil/o

lips

labi/o

chol/e

bile, gall

cholecyst/o

gallbladder, stores bile and releases it into the small intestine as needed

col/o, colon/o

colon, large intestine, absorbs excess water and prepares solid waste for excretion

-eal

-emesis, emesis

vomiting

enter/o

small intestine, completes digestion and absorption of most nutrients

eruct/o

eructat/o

esophag/o

esophagus

gastr/o

stomach

hepat/o

liver

hiat/o

opening

ile/o

inguin/o

groin

labi/o

lith/o, -lith

-lithiasis

presence of stones

obes/o

obese

occult/o

palat/o

palate

-pepsia

digest, digestion

-phagia

eating, swallowing

plak/o, -plakia

plague

sigmoid/o

sigmoid (means curved) colon, an S-shaped structure that continues from the descending colon above and joins the rectum below.

stom/o, stomat/o

mouth

varic/o

volv/o

xer/o

dry

aerophagia

(ayr-oh-FAY-jee-ah) excessive swallowing of air while eating or drinking and is a common cause of gas in the stomach

anabolism

(an-NAB-oh-lizm), the building up of body cells or substances from nutrients.

anal fissure

small crack-like sore in the skin of the anus that can cause severe pain during a bowel movement.

anastomosis

(ah-nas-toh-MOH-sis) a surgical connection between two hollow or tubular structures

anorexia

(an-oh-RECK-see-ah) the loss of appetite for food, especially when caused by disease. (an- = without, -orexia = appetite)

antacid

neutralize the acids in the stomach, taken to relieve the discomfort of conditions such as pyrosis or to help peptic ulcers heal.

antidiarrheal

antiemetic

(an-tih-ee-MET-ick) medication administered to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting

antioxidants

(an-tye-OX-ih-dants) chemicals such as vitamins A, C, and E, may prevent or delay cell damage by blocking the activity of potentially harmful chemicals called free radicals.

canker sore, apthous ulcer

(KANE-ker) gray-white pits with a red border in the soft tissues lining the mouth.

ascites

(ah-SIGH-teez) an abnormal accumulation of serous (watery) fluid in the peritoneal cavity

Barret’s esophagus

a condition that occurs when the cells in the epithelial tissue of the esophagus are damaged by chronic acid exposure. sometimes a result of chronic GERD.

bariatrics

(bayr-ee-AT-ricks) the branch of medicine for the prevention and management of obesity and associated diseases.

body mass index (BMI)

ratio of weight (kg) / height (m²), a high BMI is one of many factors related to developing chronic diseases.

bolus

(BOH-lus) a mass of food that has been chewed and is ready to be swallowed.

borborygmus

(bor-boh-RIG-mus) the rumbling noise caused by the movement of gas in the intestine.

bruxism

(BRUCK-sizm) the involuntary grinding of the teeth that usually occurs during sleep and is associated with tension or stress. It can also occur habitually during the day.

cachexia

(kah-KEKS-eeh-ah) physical wasting away due to the loss of weight and muscle mass that occurs in patients with diseases such as advanced cancer and AIDS.

capsule endoscopy

the use of a tiny video camera in a capsule that the patient swallows. For the next 8 hrs it transmits images of the walls of the small intestine.

catabolism

(kah-TAB-oh-lizm) the breaking down of body cells or substances, releasing energy and carbon dioxide.

celiac disease

(SEE-lee-ak) an autoimmune disorder characterized by a severe reaction to ingesting gluten.

cheilitis, cheilosis

(kye-LITE-is) inflammation of the lips characterized by crack-like sores at the corners of the mouth

cholangiography

(koh-LAN-jee-og-rah-fee) radiographic examination of the bile ducts with the use of a contrast medium

cholangitis

(koh-lan-JIGH-tis) acute inflammation of the bile duct characterized by pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, fever, and jaundice (cholang = bile duct)

cholecystectomy (choley)

(koh-luh-sis-TECK-toh-mee) surgical removal of the galbladder

cholecystitis

(koh-luh-sis-TYE-tis) inflammation of the gallbladder, usually associated with gallstones blocking the flow of bile

cholelithiasis

(koh-luh-lih-THIGH-ah-sis) the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder or bile ducts. (chole = bile / gall, -lithiasis = presence of stones)

cirrhosis

(sih-ROH-sis) a chronic degenerative disease of the liver characterized by scarring (cirrh = yellow/orange)

cleft lip

a birth defect in which there is a deep grove of the lip running upward to the nose and as a result of the failure of this portion of the lip to close during prenatal development

cleft palate

the failure of the palate to close during the early development of the fetus. this opening can involve the upper lip, hard and/or soft palates.

clostridium difficile (C. diff)

(klos-TRID-ee-um dif-us-SEEL) a common bacterial infection, typically following the use of antibiotics that wipe out competing bacteria. causes diarrhea and colon inflammation.

colectomy

(koh-LECK-toh-mee) is the surgical removal of all or part of the colon

colonoscopy (COL)

(koh-lun-OSS-koh-pee) direct visual examination of the inner surface of the entire colon from the rectum to the cecum using a colonoscope.

colostomy

(koh-LAHS-toh-mee) surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and body surface

constipation

having less than three bowel movements a week. stools are usually hard, dry, small, and diffcult to pass.

Crohn’s disease

(KROHNZ) a chronic autoimmune disorder that can occur anywhere in the digestive tract; however, it is most often found in the ileum and in the colon.

defecation

(def-eh-KAY-shun), also known as bowel movement (BM), is the evacuation or emptying of the large intestine.

dental caries

aka tooth decay or cavities, an infectious disease caused by bacteria that destroy the enamel and dentin of the tooth.

dental implant

dental prophylaxis

(proh-fih-LACK-sis) professional examining, cleaning, and polishing of the gums and teeth to remove plague and tartar.

dentition

(den-TISH-un) refers to the natural teeth arranged in the upper and lower jaws. consists of 4 types of teeth

diarrhea

(dye-ah-REE-ah) an abnormally frequent flow of loose or watery stools and can lead to dehydration. (dia- = through)

diverticulitis

(dye-ver-tick-you-LYE-tis) inflammation or infection of one or more diverticula in the wall of the colon

diverticulosis

(dye-ver-tick-you-LOH-sis) the chronic presence of an abnormal number of diverticula, or sacs, formed in weak spots of the colon wall.

dysentery

(DIS-en-ter-ee) a bacterial infection that occurs in tropical countries where it is spread through food/water contaminated with feces.

dyspepsia

(dis-PEP-see-ah) pain or discomfort in digestion.

dysphagia

(dis-FAY-jee-ah) difficulty in swallowing.

edentulous

(ee-DEN-too-lus) without teeth.

emetic

enema

(EH-neh-ma) the placement of a solution into the rectum and colon to empty the lower intestine through bowel activity

enteritis

(en-ter-EYE-tis) an inflammation of the small intestine caused by ingesting substances contaminated with viral or bacterial pathogens which causes diarrhea.

eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)

(ee-oh-sin-ah-FIL-ik eh-sof-ah-JEYE-itis) is a chronic immune system disease in which a type of white blood cell caused an eosinophil builds up in the esophagus, usually as the result of an allergy.

eructation

(eh-ruk-TAY-shun) the act of belching or raising gas orally from the stomach.

Escherichia coli (E coli)

caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli, transmitted through contaminated foods that have not been adequately cooked.

esophageal varix(ces)

(eh-sof-ah-JEE-al VAYR-ih-seez) enlarged and swollen veins at the lower end of the seophagus

esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

(eh-sof-ah-goh-gas-troh-dew-oh-deh-NOS-koh-pee) an endoscopic procedure that allows direct visualization of the upper GI tract.

failure to thrive (FTT)

when an infant or child does not grow as expected due to any number of reasons including malabsorption or malnutrition

fecal incontinence

the inability to control the excretion of feces.

fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)

aka fecal transplant therapy, the transplant of stool from a healthy donor, used to restore gut bacteria.

gallbladder (GB)

gastroduodenostomy

(gas-troh-dew-oh-deh-NOS-toh-mee) the establishment of an anastomosis between the upper portion of the stomach and the duodenum.

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

(gas-troh-eh-sof-ah-JEE-al REE-flucks) the upward flow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus

gastroparesis

(gas-troh-pah-REE-sis) a condition in which gastric motility slows down, causing delayed gastric emptying

gastrostomy tube (G-tube)

(gas-TROS-toh-mee) a surgically placed feeding tube from the exterior of the body directly on the abdomen, directly into the stomach.

gingivitis

(jin-jih-VYE-tis) the earliest stage of periodontal disease, and the inflammation only affects the gums. (gingiv = gums, -itis = inflammation)

H2 receptor antagonist

halitosis

(hal-ih-TOH-sis), aka bad breath. can be caused by dental diseases or respiratory/gastric disorders. halit = breath, -osis = abnormal condition or disease