HIGH-YIELD FLASHCARDS

dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

emesis

Vomiting

hematemesis

Vomiting of bright red blood (upper GI bleeding)

melena

Black, tarry stools (upper GI bleeding)

hematochezia

Bright red blood in stools (lower GI bleeding)

occult blood

Blood in stool not visible to naked eye

halitosis

Bad breath

glossodynia

Painful, burning tongue

aphthous ulcer

Canker sore (stress/illness related)

thrush

Oral Candida albicans infection (after antibiotics, chemo, diabetes)

cold sore

Recurrent blister from HSV-1 (herpes simplex)

dental caries

Tooth decay / cavity formation

gingivitis

Inflammation of the gums

periodontitis

Gums pull away from teeth forming infection pockets

pyorrhea

Purulent (pus) discharge from gums

dyspepsia

"Upset stomach" – epigastric pain, nausea, gas

gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach lining

peptic ulcer

Mucosal breakdown in stomach or duodenum (often caused by H. pylori)

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux)

esophageal varices

Dilated veins in esophagus; can rupture (associated with cirrhosis)

hiatal hernia

Stomach protrudes through diaphragm at esophageal hiatus

celiac disease

Autoimmune reaction to gluten; damages small intestine villi

lactose intolerance

Lack of lactase enzyme → cannot digest milk sugar

Crohn's disease

Chronic inflammation of small intestine (often ileum); no cure

ulcerative colitis

Chronic inflammation and ulceration of large intestine lining

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Crampy pain, gas, diarrhea/constipation; no anatomical changes

diverticulosis

Small pouches (diverticula) in large intestine wall

diverticulitis

Infected/inflamed diverticula (low-fiber diet cause)

appendicitis

Inflammation of appendix; most common cause of RLQ pain

peritonitis

Inflammation of peritoneum from ruptured appendix

intussusception

Telescoping of one part of intestine into another

ileus

Paralytic ileus – disruption of normal peristalsis

constipation

Hard, infrequent stools (too much water reabsorbed)

diarrhea

Frequent loose stools (too little water reabsorbed)

dysentery

Severe bacterial gastroenteritis with blood and mucus in stool

malabsorption

Inadequate GI absorption of nutrients

jaundice

Yellow skin/sclera from bilirubin deposits (liver or biliary disease)

hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver

cirrhosis

Irreversible scarring of liver (alcohol, hepatitis, fatty liver)

cholelithiasis

Gallstones (cholesterol, calcium, bilirubin)

cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder (usually with stones)

choledocholithiasis

Gallstone stuck in common bile duct

pancreatitis

Inflammation of pancreas (acute or chronic)

hemorrhoids

Dilated anal veins (internal or external); pain + bright red blood

anal fissure

Tear in anal canal lining

anal fistula

Abnormal passage between anal canal and external skin

polyp

Mass protruding into bowel lumen (most benign)

colon cancer

2nd leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer)

oral cancer

80% from smoking/chewing tobacco; metastasizes to lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bone

GERD

Regurgitation of stomach acid into esophagus

anorexia

Loss of appetite or aversion to food

H. pylori

Bacterium that causes most peptic ulcers

triglycerides

A type of lipid (fat)

amylase

Enzyme that breaks down starch (begins in mouth)

lipase

Enzyme that breaks down fat

protease

Enzyme that breaks down protein

pepsin

Stomach enzyme that digests protein

HCl (hydrochloric acid)

Stomach acid that breaks down connective tissue + activates pepsin

bile

Fluid from liver that emulsifies fats

pancreas

Only organ that is both endocrine (insulin/glucagon) and exocrine (digestive enzymes)

insulin

Pancreatic hormone that lowers blood glucose

glucagon

Pancreatic hormone that raises blood glucose

glycogen

Storage form of carbohydrate (liver and muscle)

villus (villi)

Hairlike projections in small intestine for absorption

lacteal

Lymphatic vessel in villus that absorbs fats (chyle)

chyle

Milky fluid from fat digestion/absorption in lymphatics

portal vein

Carries blood from intestines to liver

peristalsis

Waves of contraction/relaxation moving food through GI tract

deglutition

Swallowing

bolus

Mass of chewed food

chyme

Semi-digested food from stomach to duodenum

feces

Undigested waste eliminated from body

flatus

Gas expelled through anus

defecation

Evacuation of feces

pyloric sphincter

Controls passage from stomach to duodenum

ileocecal valve

Sphincter between ileum and cecum

internal anal sphincter

Smooth muscle (involuntary)

external anal sphincter

Skeletal muscle (voluntary)

endoscopy

Visualizing GI tract with lighted camera scope

colonoscopy

Endoscopic exam of entire colon

sigmoidoscopy

Endoscopic exam of rectum and sigmoid colon

fecal occult blood test

Hemoccult – screens for hidden blood (colon cancer)

barium swallow

Contrast X-ray of pharynx and esophagus

barium enema

Contrast X-ray of large intestine

ERCP

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (biliary/pancreatic ducts)

PEG tube

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (feeding tube through skin to stomach)

appendectomy

Surgical removal of appendix

cholecystectomy

Surgical removal of gallbladder

colostomy

Artificial opening from colon to skin

ileostomy

Artificial opening from ileum to skin

anastomosis

Surgical joining of two tubular structures

hemorrhoidectomy

Surgical removal of hemorrhoids

herniorrhaphy

Surgical repair of a hernia

antacid

Neutralizes stomach acid (Tums, Mylanta, Maalox)

H2 blocker

Reduces stomach acid (ranitidine, famotidine, cimetidine)

PPI (proton pump inhibitor)

Blocks gastric acid secretion (omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole)

antiemetic

Drug that prevents vomiting (ondansetron, promethazine)

antidiarrheal

Reduces diarrhea (loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate)

laxative

Promotes bowel movement (bisacodyl, senna, magnesium hydroxide)

anastomosis

Surgically created union between two tubular structures