Untitled Flashcards Set

Key Word Parts and Their Meanings

• an/o – anus

• cec/o – cecum (first part of the large intestine)

• chol/e – bile, gall

• cholecyst/o – gallbladder

• col/o, colon/o – colon (large intestine)

• enter/o – intestines (usually the small intestine)

• esophag/o – esophagus

• gastr/o – stomach

• hepat/o – liver

• pancreat/o – pancreas

• proct/o – rectum and anus

• rect/o – rectum

• sigmoid/o – sigmoid colon (S-shaped last part of the large intestine)

• or/o – mouth

• -pepsia – digestion

• -listhesis – slipping or displacement (not common in GI but may relate to digestive tract disorders)

Key Medical Terms and Their Meanings

• Glucose – A simple sugar that is the primary energy source for the body, absorbed in the small intestine.

• Bilirubin – A yellow pigment produced from the breakdown of red blood cells, processed by the liver, and excreted in bile.

• Bile – A digestive fluid produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the small intestine to aid fat digestion.

• Metabolism – The process of breaking down food into energy and nutrients for bodily functions.

• Enzymes – Proteins that speed up chemical reactions, including those that break down food in the digestive system.

• Gastroenterologist – A doctor specializing in the digestive system and its disorders.

• Emesis – Vomiting.

• Peristalsis – Involuntary muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

• Gastric Acids – Stomach acids (including hydrochloric acid) that aid in digestion and kill harmful bacteria.

• Duodenum – The first part of the small intestine, where most digestion occurs.

• Jejunum – The middle section of the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed.

• Ileum – The final section of the small intestine, which continues nutrient absorption before passing waste to the large intestine.