Unit 6 Medical Terminology Disease Cards

anorexia

lack or loss of appetite, resulting in the inability to eat

appendicitis

inflammation of the appendix, usually caused by obstruction or infection

ascites

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, usually as a result of chronic liver disease, a neoplasm, or an inflammatory disorder in the abdomen

borborygmus

rumbling or gurgling noises that are audible at a distance and caused by passage of gas through the liquid contents of the intestine

cachexia

physical wasting that includes loss of weight and muscle mass and is commonly associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cancer; also called wasting syndrome

cholelithiasis

presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder

cirrhosis

scarring and dysfunction of the liver caused by chronic liver disease

dysentery

inflammation of the intestine, especially the colon, that may be caused by ingesting water or food containing chemical irritants, bacteria, protozoa, or parasites and results in bloody diarrhea

fistula

abnormal passage from one organ to another or from a hollow organ to the surface

flatus

gas in the GI tract; expelling of air from a body orifice, especially the anus

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus as a result of malfunction of the sphincter muscle at the inferior portion of the esophagus

halitosis

foul-smelling breath

hematemesis

vomiting of blood from bleeding in the stomach or esophagus

hemorrhoids

swollen varicose veins in the anorectal region categorized as external or internal

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

ulceration of the colon mucosa

Crohn disease

form of IBD, usually of the ileum but possibly affecting any portion of the intestinal tract; also called regional enteritis

ulcerative colitis (UC)

chronic inflammatory disease of the colon, commonly beginning in the rectum or sigmoid colon and extending upward into the entire colon

intestinal obstruction

mechanical or functional blockage of the intestines that occurs when the contents of the intestine cannot move forward through the intestinal tract because of a partial or complete blockage of the bowel

intussusception

telescoping of one portion of the intestine into another, causing intestinal blockage

volvulus

twisting of the bowel on itself, causing obstruction

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

symptom complex marked by abdominal pain and altered bowel function (typically constipation, diarrhea, or alternating constipation and diarrhea) for which no organic cause can be determined, also called spastic colon

malabsorption syndrome

symptom complex of the small intestine characterized by the impaired passage of nutrients, minerals, or fluids through intestinal villi into the blood or lymph

melena

dark, tarlike feces that contain digested blood from bleeding in the esophagus or stomach

obesity

excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body’s skeletal and physical standards, usually an increase of 20% or more above ideal body weight or a body mass index (BMI) beginning at 30

morbid obesity

obesity in which BMI is 40 or greater than 40, and generally 100 lb or more over ideal body weight

ostipation

severe constipation, which may be caused by an intestinal obstruction

oral leukoplakia

formation of white spots or patches on the mucuous membrane of the tongue, lips, or cheek caused primarily by irritation

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

pyloric stenosis

an uncommon condition appearing within 3 to 5 weeks after birth resulting in a stricture or narrowing of the pyloric sphincter (circular muscle of the pylorus) at the outlet of the stomach, causing an obstruction that blocks the flow of food into the small intestine

regurgitation

a backward flow, as in the return of solids or fluids to the mouth from the stomach