Chapter 6

bilirubin

Orange-yellow pigment formed during destruction of erythrocytes that is taken up by liver cells and eventually excreted in the feces

bolus

Mass of masticated food ready for swallowing

exocrine

Type of gland that secretes its products through excretory ducts to the surface of an organ or tissue or into a vessel

sphincter

Circular band of muscle fibers that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening of the body

triglycerides

Organic compound, a true fat, that is made of one glycerol and three fatty acids

or/o, stomat/o

mouth

gloss/o, lingu/o

tongue

bucc/o

cheek

cheil/o, labi/o

lip

dent/o, odont/o

teeth

gingiv/o

gums

sial/o

saliva, salivary gland

esophag/o

esophagus

pharyng/o

pharynx (throat)

gastr/o

stomach

pylor/o

pylorus

duoden/o

duodenum (first part of small intestine)

enter/o

intestine (usually small intestine)

jejun/o

jejunum (second part of small intestine)

ile/o

ileum (third part of small intestine)

append/o, appendic/o

appendix

col/o, colon/o

colon

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

rect/o

rectum

proct/o

anus, rectum

an/o

anus

hepat/o

liver

pancret/o

pancreas

cholangi/o

bile vessel

chol/e

bile, gall

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

choledoch/o

bile duct

-emesis

vomit

-iasis

abnormal blood condition

-megaly

enlargement

-orexia

appetite

-pepsia

digestion

-phagia

swallowing, eating

-prandial

meal

-rrhea

discharge, flow

dia-

through across

peri-

around

sub-

under, below

anorexia

lack or loss of appetite

appendicitis

inflammation of the appendix

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

cholelithiasis

Presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder

cirrhosis

Scarring and dysfunction of the liver

Crohn disease

Form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), usually of the ileum but possibly affecting any portion of the intestinal tract

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

flatus

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

gastroesophageal reflux disease

Backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus as a result of a 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

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

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

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

morbid

Obesity in which body mass index (BMI) is greater than 40, and generally 100 lb or more over ideal body weight

obstipation

Severe constipation

oral leukoplakia

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

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

pyloric stenosis

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

ulcerative colitis

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

gastrointestinal endoscopy

Visual examination of the gastrointestinal tract using a flexible fiberoptic instrument with a magnifying lens and a light source (endoscope) to identify abnormalities, including bleeding, ulcerations, and tumors

hepatitis panel

Panel of blood tests that identifies the specific virus—hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), or hepatitis C (HCV)—that is causing hepatitis by testing serum using antibodies to each of these antigens

liver function tests (LFTs)

Group of blood tests that evaluate liver injury, liver function, and conditions commonly associated with the biliary tract

serum bilirubin

Measurement of the level of bilirubin in the blood

stool culture

Test to identify microorganisms or parasites present in feces that are causing a gastrointestinal infection

stool guaiac

Test that applies a substance called guaiac to a stool sample to detect the presence of occult (hidden) blood in the feces

computed tomography (CT)

Imaging technique achieved by rotating an x-ray emitter around the area to be scanned and measuring the intensity of transmitted rays from different angles

lower gastrointestinal series

Radiographic images of the rectum and colon following administration of barium into the rectum

oral cholecystography

Radiographic images taken of the gallbladder after administration of a contrast material containing iodine, usually in the form of a tablet

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Technique that uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field, rather than an x-ray beam, to produce highly detailed, multiplanar, cross-sectional views of soft tissues

magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)

Special MRI technique that produces detailed images of the hepatobiliary and pancreatic systems, including the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, and pancreatic duct

ultrasonography (US)

Test in which high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) are directed at soft tissue and reflected as “echoes” to produce an image on a monitor of an internal body structure

abdominal

Ultrasound visualization of the abdominal aorta, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, kidneys, ureters, and bladder

endoscopic

Combination of endoscopy and ultrasound that examines and obtains images of the digestive tract and the surrounding tissues and organs

upper gastrointestinal series

Radiographic images of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine following oral administration of barium

anastomosis

Surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to another

ileorectal

Surgical connection of the ileum and rectum after total colectomy, as is sometimes performed in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

intestinal

Surgical connection of two portions of the intestines

appendectomy

Excision of a diseased appendix using an open or laparoscopic procedure

open

Excision of a diseased appendix through a 2” to 3” incision in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen

laparoscopic

Minimally invasive appendectomy using three small abdominal incisions while monitoring an enlarged image of the surgical site projected on a monitor

bariatric surgery

Group of procedures that treat morbid obesity, a condition that arises from severe accumulation of excess weight as fatty tissue, and the resultant health problems

vertical banded gastroplasty

Bariatric surgery that involves vertical stapling of the upper stomach near the esophagus to reduce it to a small pouch and insertion of a band that restricts food consumption and delays its passage from the pouch, causing a feeling of fullness

roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB)

Bariatric surgery that involves stapling the stomach to decrease its size and then shortening the jejunum and connecting it to the small stomach pouch, causing the base of the duodenum leading from the nonfunctioning portion of the stomach to form a Y configuration, which decreases the pathway of food through the intestine, thus reducing absorption of calories and fats

colostomy

Surgical procedure in which a surgeon forms an opening (stoma) by drawing the healthy end of the colon through an incision in the anterior abdominal wall and suturing it into place

lithotripsy

Procedure for crushing a stone and eliminating its fragments surgically or using ultrasonic shock waves

extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

Use of shock waves as a noninvasive method to break up stones in the gallbladder or biliary ducts

paracentesis

Procedure to remove fluid from the abdomen using a long, thin needle inserted through the belly

polypectomy

Excision of a polyp

nasogastric intubation

Insertion of a nasogastric tube through the nose into the stomach to relieve gastric distention by removing gas, food, or gastric secretions; instill medication, food, or fluids; or obtain a specimen for laboratory analysis