digestive system medical terminology

or/o

mouth

bucc/o

cheek

gloss/o

tongue

lingu/o

tongue :)

-ae

latin plural suffix

palate

roof of the mouth

pharyng/o

throat

laryngopharynx

final part of the pharynx where food and liquids are directed into the esophagus

esophagus

muscular tube linking the pharynx to the stomach

epi-

above, upon, over

esophag/o

esophagus

-us

structure, thing

epiglottis

structure above the glottis that drops down over the glottis during swallowing, shunts food into the esophagus

gastric

pertaining to the stomach

rugae

folds in an organ that allow that organ to expand and contract to accommodate the change in size

enteric or enteral

pertaining to the small intestine

duodenum

first segment of the small intestine

jejunum

second segment of the small intestine

ileum

third segment of the small intestine

large intestine

colon

colonic

pertaining to the large intestine

trans-

across, through

-verse

to turn

-ing

an action, process

an/o

anus

rectum

terminal part of the colon; stores feces until defecation

rect/o

rectum

saliv/o

saliva

saliva

salivary gland fluid that has enzymes, neutralize acids, moistens food, lubricates the mouth

ot/o

ear

-id

origin, source

sub-

under, below

sublingual

pertaining to below the tongue

bile

fluid produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder and secreted into the duodenum

bil/o

bile, gall

hepatic

pertaining to the liver

gallbladder

sac/receptacle on the inferior surface of the liver for storing bile

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

cyst/o

bladder, sac

pancreat/o

pancreas

pancreas

organ that produces enzymes that help digest food and hormones that regulate blood sugar levels

bowels

intestines

small bowel

small intestine

large bowel

large intestines or colon

defecation

action of excreting of feces

defecate

discharge feces from the body

de-

removal

-ation

action, process

digestion

process of food being broken down into smaller molecules

gastroenterology

medical specialty of the stomach and intestines

-logy

study of

-logist

specialist, one who studies

intestine

digestive tube from the stomach to the anus

intestinal

pertaining to the intestines

lumen

inferior space of a tube-like structure

peristalsis

wave-like contraction and relaxation of the intestinal wall to move food along the digestive tract

peri-

around, surround

peritoneum

double-layered membrane lining the abdominal cavity

peritone/o

peritoneum

crown

portion of a tooth above the gumline; covered by enamel

hernia

protrusion of a structure through the tissue that normally contains it

hiatal hernia

part of the stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm into the chest cavity

-ia

condition

inguin/o

groin

perforation

erosion that progresses through all the layers of the digestive tract and becomes a hole

pept/o

digest

per-

through

-itis

inflammation, infection

prolapse

organ or tissue that falls out of its normal position

-osis

abnormal condition

cleft palate

congenital opening or split in the palate

halitosis

bad odor of the breath

stomatitis

inflammation/infection of the mouth

stomat/o

mouth

thrush

oral fungal infection

dysphagia

difficulty in swallowing

dys-

bad, difficult, abnormal

-phagia

eating, swallowing

anorexia

loss of appetite

an-

without, no, not

dyspepsia

difficult digestion; upset stomach

-pepsia

digestion

in-

without, not

indigestion

difficult in digesting

emesis

vomit

hematemesis

vomiting of blood

hyper-

excessive

hemat/o

blood

-emesis

vomit

gastr/o

stomach

gastroenteritis

inflammation/infection of the stomach and small intestine

pyloric stenosis

abnormal narrowing of the pyloric sphincter

pyrosis

sensation of painful burning of the stomach/epigastric area

pyr/o

fire

re-

again, back

regurgitation

backwards flow of the stomach contents into the mouth

malabsorption

inadequate gastrointestinal assimilation of nutrients from the gut into the blood

mal-

bad, difficult, abnormal

appendicitis

inflammation/infection of the appendix

-ence

state of, condition