Digesttive Vocab

Absorption

passing of a substance into body fluids and tissues

Alimentary canal

also known as the digestive tract and gastrointestinal tract

Anorexia

loss of appetite

Aspiration

to draw food or other objects into the lungs

Caries

tooth decay

Cholecystectomy

excision or removal of the gallbladder

Cholecystitis

inflammation of the gallbladder

Constipation

difficult or infrequent bowel movements

Defecation

elimination of waste material from the rectum; passing of stool

Deglutition

swallowing

Dentures

artificial teeth which replace all or part of a person's teeth

Diarrhea

Frequent passage of liquid stool

Digestion

The process of changing complex solids foods into simpler soluble forms which can be absorbed by the body cells

Dipsosis

a condition producing thirst

Dysphagia

difficulty swallowing

Elimination

to rid the body of wastes, such as urine or stool

Emesis

vomiting

Enteritis

Inflammation of the intestines

Enteron

means intestine

Feces

waste products of digested food discharged from the intestines (stool, BM)

Flatus

gas in the bowel

Gastritis

inflammation of the stomach

Gastroenterology

study of the stomach and intestines and their disease

Gastrostomy tube

a tube inserted through the abdominal wall into the stomach

Gavage

tube feeding

Halitosis

Bad Breath

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver

Impaction

hard stool that cannot pass from the rectum normally

Incontinent

inability to control evacuation of one's bowels or bladder or both

Jaundice

yellow discoloration of skin due to bile

Mastication

process of chewing

Metabolism

sum total of chemical reactions which occur in a living organism

Nasogastric tube

a tube which is inserted through the nose and down into the stomach; commercial formulas are given through the tube

Nutrient

food that supplies the body with its necessary elements

Nutrition

the process whereby the body takes in food and produces energy for growth and repair

Pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

Peristalsis

progressive wave of contraction in a tubular structure provided longitudinal and transverse muscular fibers, as in the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines

Plaque

Plaque

Projectile vomiting

vomitus forcibly ejected without nausea

Sphincter muscles

a circle of muscle fibers around the outlet of the urethra and rectum which are normally closed but can be relaxed to allow passage of urine and stool.