Chapter 8: Digestive System

an/o

Anus, ring

Chol/e

Bile, gall

Cholecyst/o

Gallbladder

Col/o

Colon, large intestine

Colon/o

Colon, large intestine

-emesis

Vomiting

Enter/o

Small intestine

Esophag/o

Esophagus

Gastr/o

Stomach, belly

Hepat/o

Liver

-lithiasis

Presence of stones

-pepsia

Digest, digestion

-phagia

Eating, swallowing

Proct/o

Anus and rectum

Rect/o

Rectum, straight

Sigmoid/o

Sigmoid colon

Abdominal computed tomography (CT)

Radiographic procedure that uses x-rays to produce a detailed cross-section of the tissue structure within the abdomen showing for example, the presence of a tumor or obstruction

Abdominal ultrasound

Non-invasive test used to visualize internal organs by using very high frequency sound waves

Aerophagia

Excessive swallowing of air while eating or drinking and is a common cause of gas in the stomach

Anastomosis

A surgical connection between two hollow or tubular structures

Anorexia

Loss of appetite for food, especially when caused by disease

Anoscopy

Visual examination of the anal canal and lower rectum

Antiemetic

Medication administered to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting

Anal fissure

Small cracked-like sore in the skin of the anus that can cause severe pain during bowel movement

Ascites

An abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity

Anorectal

Refers to the anus and rectum as a single unit

Antioxidants

Chemicals such as vitamin A, C, E, carotene and lutein that may prevent or delay cell damage by blocking the activity of potentially harmful chemicals, called free radicals

Accessory organs

Play a key role in the digestive process, but are not part of the gastrointestinal tract

Anabolism

Building up the body cells or substances from nutrients

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG)

A.k.a. trench mouth; is caused by the abnormal growth bacteria in the mouth

As the condition progresses, the inflammation, bleeding, deep ulcerations, and the death of the gum tissue becomes more severe

Bariatrics

The branch of medicine for the prevention and management of obesity and associated diseases

Bariatric surgery

Performed to treat severe obesity by restricting the amount of food that can enter the stomach and be digested

Barrett’s esophagus

Condition that occurs when the cells in the epithelial tissue of the esophagus are damaged by chronic acid exposure

Bile

Aid and digestion of fats

Travels from the liver to the gallbladder where it is concentrated and stored

Biliary colic

Pain caused by the passage of gallstones through the bile duct

Bilirubin

Pigmented formed in the liver by the breakdown of hemoglobin and excreted in bile, giving it a yellow or green color

Excessive amounts of this can lead to jaundice and other diseases

Borborygmus

The rumbling noise caused by the movement of gas in the intestine

Bolus

Mass of food that has been chewed and is ready to be swallowed

Body mass index

Ratio of weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared

Bruxism

Involuntary grinding of the teeth that usually occurs during sleep and is associated with tension or stress

Breath test

Used to diagnose certain intestinal disorders and is named for the gas being tested

Example test for lactose intolerance is called hydrogen breath test

Cachexia

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 very tiny camera in the capsule that the patient swallows

For approximately eight hours, it passes through the small intestine, and the camera transmitted images of the walls of the small intestine

Canker sores

Gray-white pits (aphthous ulcers) with a red border in the soft tissue lining the mouth

Calories

Unit of energy

Catabolism

Breaking down of body cells or substances, releasing energy and carbon dioxide

Celiac disease

An autoimmune disorder characterized by a severe reaction to ingesting gluten

Cheilitis

Inflammation of the lips characterized by cracked-like sores at the corner of the mouth, also known as cheilosis

Cholangiography

Radiographic examination of the bile ducts with the use of a contrast medium

Cholangitis

Acute inflammation of the bile duct characterized by pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, fever, and jaundice

Cholecystectomy

Surgical removal of the gallbladder

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder, usually associated with gallstones blocking the flow of bile

Cholelithiasis

The presence of gallstones in the gallbladder or bile ducts

Chyme

Semi fluid mass of partially digested food that passes out of the stomach through the pyloric sphincter and into the small intestine

Cirrhosis

Chronic degenerative disease of the liver characterized by scarring

Clostridium difficile

A.k.a. C. Diff, common bacterial infection, typically following the use of antibiotics that wipes out competing bacteria

Cleft lip

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

Cleft palate

Failure of the palate to close during the early development of the fetus

Colonoscopy

Direct visual examination of the inner surface of the entire colon from the rectum to the cecum using a colonoscope

Colostomy

Surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface

Colectomy

Surgical removal of all or part of the colon

Comorbidity

The presence of more than one disease or health condition in an individual at a given time

Cold sores

A.k.a. fever blisters or herpes labialis

Blister-like sores on the lips and adjacent facial tissue that are caused by the oral herpes simplex virus type 1

Crohn’s disease

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

Colorectal carcinoma

(Colon cancer) Often first manifest itself in polyps in the colon

Cologuard

Recently developed non-invasive collect at home stool test that uses DNA test testing along with screening for hidden blood to determine the potential presence of colorectal cancer

Dental prophylaxis

Professional examining cleaning and polishing of the gums and teeth to remove plaque and tartar

Dental arches

Bony structures of the oral cavity

Hold the teeth firmly in position to facilitate chewing and speaking

Dental caries

Aka tooth decay or cavity

Infectious disease caused by bacteria that destroy the enamel and dentin of the tooth

Dental calculus

Aka tartar

Dental plaque that has calcified or harden on the teeth

Dental plaque

Forms a soft deposits in sheltered area near the gum and between the teeth

Deglutition

Swallowing

Diverticulitis

Inflammation or infection of one or more diverticula in the wall of the colon

Diverticulectomy

Surgical removal of a diverticulum

Diverticulosis

Chronic presence of an abnormal number of diverticula or sacs formed in weak spots of the colon wall

Diverticulum

Small pouch or sac found in the lining or wall of the tubular organs, such as colon

Digestive enzymes

Responsible for the chemical changes that break food down into simpler forms of nutrients for use of the body

Dyspepsia

Pain or discomfort in digestion

Dysphagia

Difficulty in swallowing

Dysentery

Bacterial infection, occurs most frequently in tropical countries where it is spread through food or water contaminated by human feces

Dorsum

Upper surface of tongue

Duodenum

First portion of the small intestine

E. Coli

Transmitted through contaminated foods that have not been adequately cooked

Enteral nutrition

Feeling using the digestive system either through eating and drinking by the mouth or via tube feeding

Edentulous

Without teeth

Endoscopy

A visual examination of internal structures

Enema

The placement of a solution into the rectum and colon to empty the lower intestine through bowel activity

Enteritis

An inflammation of the small intestine caused by ingesting substances contaminated with viral or bacterial pathogens, which caused diarrhea

Epiglottis

Lid-like structure that closes off the entrance to the trachea (windpipe) to prevent food and liquids from moving from the pharynx during swallowing

Esophagus

Muscular tube through which ingested food passes from the pharynx to the stomach

Eructation

The act of belching or raising gas orally from the stomach

Esophageal varices

Enlarged and swollen veins at the lower end of the esophagus

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

An endoscopic procedure that allows a direct visualization of the upper G.I. tract

Emulsification

Chyme is mixed with pancreatic juice and bile, the bile breaks apart large fat globules so that enzymes in the pancreatic juice can digest the fat

Eosinophilic esophagitis

Chronic immune system disease in which a type of white blood cell called eosinophil builds up in the esophagus

This can make it difficult to swallow

Emesis

Reflex ejection of the stomach content outward through the mouth (vomiting)

Flatulence

The passage of gas also called flatus out of the body through the rectus

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

Inability to control the excretion of feces

Fecal microbiota transplantation

Transfer of stool from healthy donor used to restore bacteria