ChapterTen - Digestive System terms

inability to swallow, literally "without eating"

an accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity that produces an enlarged abdomen

infrequent or incomplete bowel movements

frequent discharge of watery fecal material

commonly called indigestion, it is accompanied by stomach or esophageal pain or discomfort

difficulty in swallowing

presence of gas, or air, in the GI tract

symptom of stomach pain, also known as gastralgia

condition of bad breath

vomiting blood, a sign of a severe digestive disorder

abnormal enlargement of the liver

yellowish-orange coloration of the skin, sclera of the eyes, and deeper tissue that is a collective sign of liver disease

symptom of dizziness that includes an urge to vomit; when accompanied by vomiting, it is abbreviated N&V

backward flow of material in the GI tract, or regurgitation

abnormal levels of fat in the feces, literally "discharge of fat"

emotional eating disorder in which the patient avoids food due to a compulsion to become thin in appearance

inflammation of the appendix

eating disorder involving repeated gorging with food followed by induced vomiting or laxative abuse

inflammation of the lip

inflammation of the gallbladder, usually caused by gallstones lodged within it

inflammation of the common bile duct

generalized condition of stones lodged within the gallbladder or bile ducts

chronic, progressive liver disease characterized by the gradual loss of liver cells and their replacement by fat and other forms of connective tissue

inflammation of the colon; if chronic bleeding of the colon wall produces bloody diarrhea, the condition is called ulcerative colitis

chronic inflammation of any part of the GI tract that involves ulcerations, scar tissue formation, and thickening adhesions of the organ wall, also known as regional ileitis and regional enteritis

presence of small pouches called diverticula on the wall of the colon, often without symptoms or with mild bowel discomfort

condition of inflammation of diverticula, or small pouches on the wall of the colon

ulcer, or erosion, in the wall of the duodenum of the small intestine

acute inflammation of the GI tract that is caused by bacteria, protozoa, or chemical irritants

inflammation of the small or large intestine

inflammation of the esophagus often caused by acid reflux

morbid softening of the esophageal wall caused by chronic esophagitis

ingestion of food contaminated with harmful bacteria can cause symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting; Clostridium botulism causes the food-borne illness known as botulism

life-threatening food-borne illness caused by Clostridium botulinum

abnormal stretching of the stomach

abnormal enlargement of the stomach

an aggressive, metastatic cancer arising from cells lining the stomach, commonly known as stomach cancer

ulcer, or erosion, in the wall of the stomach

inflammation of the stomach

inflammation of the stomach and small intestine

inflammation of the stomach, small intestine, and colon all at once

condition of recurring reflux in the stomach contents in the esophagus

softening of the stomach wall

infection by the intestinal protozoa Giardia intestinalis or Giardgi lamblia produces symptoms of diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

inflammation of the gums or gingiva, Glands

inflammation of the tongue often by exposure to allergens, toxic substances, or extreme heat or cold

disease of the tongue

varicose, or swollen, condition of the veins in the anus that produces painful swellings that may break open and bleed

viral-induced inflammation of the liver; the five known forms are categorized with the letters A through E

tumor arising from cells within the liver; also called hepatoma

protrusion of the cardiac portion of the stomach through the hiatus of the diaphragm to enter the thoracic cavity

type of hernia that is a protrusion into the scrotal cavity in males

type of hernia that is a protrusion of a small intestinal segment through a tear in the membrane covering the abdominal wall at the umbilical (navel) region

type of hernia that restricts blood flow to the protruding organ, requiring medical intervention to avoid the loss of the affected organ

general term that includes the conditions ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease

condition of infolding of a segment of the small intestine within another segment

chronic disease characterized by periodic disturbances of large intestinal (bowel) function without clear physical damage

lack of an enzyme in the small intestine that breaks down lactose, the primary sugar in milk, and milk products

disorder that is characterized by difficulty in absorbing one or more nutrients

type of life-threatening malabsorption syndrome that is the inability to absorb fat molecules

inflammation of the pancreas

inflammation of one or both parotid glands; if caused by a virus, it is usually referred to as mumps

erosion into the inner wall of an organ along the GI tract

inflammation of the extensive membrane that lines the inner wall of the abdominopelvic cavity and covers most of its organs

condition of polyps, usually occurring in the colon or rectum of the large intestine, where it increases the risk for colorectal cancer

inflammation of the anus, and usually the rectum as well

prolapse of the rectum

severe twisting of the intestine that leads to obstruction

surgical puncture through the abdominal wall to remove fluid; also known as paracentesis

an agent that reduces the acidity of the stomach cavity

a drug that prevents or stops the vomiting reflex

a drug that reduces peristalsis activity in the GI tract

used to treat symptoms of diarrhea, usually by increasing water absorption in the colon while decreasing spasms

surgical removal of the appendix

an agents that stimulates strong waves of peristalsis of the colon

an agent that causes mild waves of peristalsis

procedure of suturing a lip

surgical removal of the gallbladder

the X-ray image of the gallbladder

procedure of producing an X-ray image, or cholecystogram, of the gallbladder

surgery that involves the removal of one or more obstructive gallstones from the common bile duct

a congenital defect in which the bones supporting the roof of the mouth, or hard palate, fail to fuse during fetal development, leaving a space between the oral cavity and nasal cavity

surgical removal of a segment of the colon

surgical creation of an opening in the colon to serve as an artificial anus

clinical lab test performed to detect blood in the feces

surgical removal of part of the stomach or, in extreme cases, the entire organ

cleansing procedure in which the stomach is irrigated with a prescribed solution

process of feeding a patient through a tube inserted into the nose that extends through the esophagus to enter the stomach

the name of the tube used during the gavage process

visual examination of the GI tract made possible by the use of an endoscope

examines the esophagus

views the stomach

examines the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum

examines the abdominal cavity

views the colon

examines the sigmoid colon

observes the rectum

diagnostic techniques that provide radiographic examination of the GI tract, usually by means of barium swallow, barium shake, or barium meal (upper GI), of barium enema (BE) (lower GI)

is the administration of barium sulfate into the colon or rectum for lower GI series (LGI) of X-rays

surgical removal of diseased tissue in the gums, or gingiva

surgical repair of the tongue

surgical removal of hemorrhoids

surgical creation of an opening through the abdominal wall and into the ileum of the small intestine to establish an alternative anus for the passage of feces

the name of the new opening of the ileum of the small intestine after a ileostomy

surgical procedure that involves an incision through the abdominal wall, often from the base of the sternum to the pubic bone

surgical removal of polyps

surgical repair of the pylorus region of the stomach, which may include the repair of the pyloric valve

test that includes obtaining stool (fecal) samples, using the samples to grow microorganisms in culture, and identification of the microorganisms

a procedure in which several branches of the vagus nerve are severed (with an incision) to reduce acid secretion in the stomach

ulcers, or erosions in the wall of the stomach

cancer of the colon and the rectum that often arises as a polyp to become aggressive, metastatic tumor