Module 19: Disorders of the Liver, Gallbladder and Pancreas

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering disorders of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas including various types of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and pancreatitis.

Jaundice

Yellow discoloration of the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes caused by elevated bilirubin levels in the blood.

Hyperbilirubinemia

An abnormally high concentration of bilirubin in the blood; it is the underlying cause of jaundice.

Pre-hepatic jaundice

Jaundice caused by excessive destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis), producing more bilirubin than the liver can process.

Hepatic jaundice

Jaundice resulting from liver disease that impairs bilirubin uptake, conjugation, or excretion.

Post-hepatic jaundice

Also known as obstructive jaundice, it occurs when bile flow is blocked after it leaves the liver.

Acute viral hepatitis

An acute inflammatory disease of the liver caused by hepatotropic viruses that infect hepatocytes.

Prodromal (pre-icteric) phase

The initial phase of hepatitis characterized by malaise, fatigue, low-grade fever, headache, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.

Icteric phase

The phase of hepatitis characterized by jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and RUQ tenderness.

Recovery phase

The phase of hepatitis where jaundice resolves, appetite improves, and stool and urine return to normal.

Hepatitis A

A fecal-oral transmitted virus that is usually self-limiting and does not cause chronic infection; a vaccine is available.

Hepatitis B

A virus transmitted through blood, sexual contact, or body fluids; it can progress to chronic infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer; a vaccine is available.

Hepatitis C

The most common cause of chronic hepatitis, transmitted through blood; no vaccine is currently available.

Hepatitis D

A virus requiring Hepatitis B infection to replicate; it causes fulminant hepatitis and is transmitted via blood.

Hepatitis E

A fecal-oral transmitted virus that is more severe during pregnancy; a vaccine is available per class notes.

Fatty liver (hepatic steatosis)

The first stage of alcoholic liver disease involving fat accumulation inside hepatocytes, resulting in an enlarged yellow liver; usually reversible with alcohol cessation.

Alcoholic hepatitis

The second stage of alcoholic liver disease involving inflammation and hepatocyte necrosis; may progress to cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis

A chronic, progressive liver disease where normal hepatocytes are gradually replaced by fibrous scar tissue and regenerative nodules.

Portal hypertension

Increased pressure within the portal venous system caused by resistance to blood flow through a scarred liver.

Liver failure

Loss of $80-90\%$ of liver function due to massive acute injury or progressive chronic disease.

Fetor hepaticus

A characteristic breath odor associated with liver failure.

Cholangiocarcinoma

Cancer of the bile duct epithelial cells which obstructs bile flow.

Cholelithiasis

The formation or presence of gallstones within the gallbladder or biliary tract.

Cholangitis

Infection and inflammation of the bile ducts, usually caused by obstruction from gallstones or tumors.

Cholesterol stones

The most common type of gallstones, formed from excess cholesterol in bile.

Black pigment stones

Gallstones composed of calcium bilirubinate, associated with chronic hemolysis and cirrhosis.

Brown pigment stones

Gallstones associated with biliary infections that form within the bile ducts.

Acute pancreatitis

Sudden inflammation of the pancreas involving premature activation of enzymes that autodigest pancreatic tissue.

Chronic pancreatitis

Progressive, irreversible inflammation characterized by the replacement of pancreatic tissue with fibrosis, leading to permanent damage.

Steatorrhea

Fatty stools caused by malabsorption, often seen as a manifestation of chronic pancreatitis.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

The most common form of pancreatic cancer, usually beginning in the ductal epithelial cells in the head of the pancreas.