| abdominocentesis |
puncture of the abdominal wall |
| abdominoplasty |
surgical revision of the abdomen |
| adenocarcinoma |
glandular cancer |
| aerodontalgia |
pain in the teeth when air is blasted at them |
| alimentary |
pertaining to the process of nourishment |
| amylase |
enzyme which breaks down starch |
| anal |
pertaining to the anus |
| anhydrase |
enzyme which helps form stomach acid |
| anophony |
the sound made by the expulsion of flatus (i.e. a fart) |
| anoplasty |
surgical revision of the anus |
| anosigmoidoscopy |
the process of looking into the anus and sigmoid colon |
| antacid |
drug that reduces the acidity of the stomach |
| antiemetic |
drug that reduces vomiting |
| anus |
the posterior end of the digestive tract |
| aphagia |
not eating |
| ascending |
the segment of the large intestine on the right side between the appendix and the transverse colon |
| ascites |
swelling of the abdomen, usually because of an underlying disease |
| bariatrics |
medical specialty that focuses on weight control |
| bile |
fluid made by the cells of the liver and stored in the gall bladder; when released into the duodenum, it helps digest fats |
| biligenesis |
the process of creating bile |
| bilirubin |
breakdown product of red blood cells; named for its reddish color |
| biliverdin |
breakdown product of red blood cells; named for its greenish color |
| buccal |
pertaining to the cheek |
| canaliculus |
small canals between liver cells where bile is excreted |
| carboxypeptidase |
enzyme which breaks down proteins |
| cardia |
the portion of the stomach where the esophagus enters |
| cathartic |
drug used to purge the gastrointestinal tract; laxative |
| caudate |
liver lobule shaped like a tail |
| celiac |
pertaining to the abdomen |
| celiomyositis |
inflammation of the abdominal muscles |
| celiopathy |
abdominal disease |
| celiotomy |
cutting into the abdomen |
| cementum |
mineralized tissue layer covering the root of a tooth |
| cholangiogastrostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the bile duct and the stomach |
| cholangiogram |
x-ray image of the bile ducts after ingestion of a x-ray dense dye |
| cholangiography |
process of obtaining a cholangiogram |
| cholangioma |
tumor of the bile ducts |
| cholangiopancreatography |
process of obtaining an image of the bile ducts and pancreas |
| cholangitis |
inflammation of the bile duct |
| cholecystalgia |
pain in the gallbladder |
| cholecystectomy |
surgical removal of the gallbladder |
| cholecystitis |
inflammation of the gallbladder |
| cholecystogram |
x-ray image of the gallbladder after ingestion of a x-ray dense dye |
| cholecystokinin |
hormone that causes contraction of the gallbladder; also used as a neurotransmitter in the brain |
| choledochocele |
herniation of the common bile duct |
| choledochoenterostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the common bile duct and the jejunum |
| choledocholithectomy |
surgical removal of a stone in the common bile duct |
| choledocholithiasis |
the presence of a stone in the common bile duct |
| choledochotomy |
cutting into the common bile duct |
| cholelith |
gallstone |
| cholelithiasis |
the presence of a stone in the gall bladder |
| cholelithotomy |
cutting into the gall bladder to remove a gallstone |
| cholelithotripsy |
using sound waves to pound a gallstone into small fragments that can be passed normally |
| chyme |
fluid found in the intestines that results from the partial digestion of food |
| chymotrypsin |
enzyme that breaks down proteins |
| cirrhosis |
inflammation of the connective tissue of the liver |
| colectomy |
surgical removal of the colon |
| colitis |
inflammation of the colon |
| colon |
large intestine |
| colonectomy |
surgical removal of the colon |
| colonoscopy |
the process of looking into the colon |
| colorectal |
pertaining to the colon and rectum |
| colostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the colon and the outside of the body |
| colovaginal |
pertaining to the colon and vagina; these two organs share a common wall that can be breached, resulting in a colovaginal fistula |
| conjugated |
bilirubin that is made water-soluble so it may be carried in the bloodstream |
| constipation |
inability to defecate |
| cystic |
a disease that causes cysts (e.g. cystic fibrosis, which affects both the lungs and digestive tract) |
| deciduous |
teeth that are normally lost (i.e. "baby teeth") |
| defecation |
the process of removing feces from the body |
| deglutition |
swallowing |
| dentalgia |
pain in the teeth |
| dentifrice |
toothpaste |
| dentin |
hard bony tissue beneath the enamel that forms the bulk of the tooth |
| dentist |
person who treats diseases of the oral cavity |
| dentistry |
practice of treating diseases of the oral cavity |
| descending |
the segment of the large intestine on the left side between the transverse colon and the sigmoid colon |
| diarrhea |
abnormal flow of feces |
| digestive |
about the act of digestion |
| diverticulitis |
outpocketing of the intestines, with inflammation |
| diverticulosis |
outpocketing of the intestines, without inflammation |
| duodenectomy |
surgical removal of the duodenum |
| duodenitis |
inflammation of the duodenum |
| duodenum |
initial segment of the small intestine, between the stomach and jejunum |
| dysentery |
disease involving problems with the intestines |
| dyspepsia |
disease involving problems with the stomach |
| elastase |
enzyme that breaks down elastin, a protein in connective tissue |
| emesis |
vomiting |
| enamel |
outer coating of teeth |
| enterectomy |
surgical removal of a segment of the intestines |
| enteric |
pertaining to the intestines |
| enterocele |
herniation of the intestines |
| enterocyte |
intestinal cell |
| enterodynia |
pain in the intestines |
| enteroendocrine |
relating to the hormones which regulate digestion |
| enteropathy |
disease of the intestines |
| enterorrhaphy |
suturing the intestines |
| enterotomy |
cutting into the intestines |
| epigastric |
one of the nine abdominal regions, lying along the midline at the top of the abdomen |
| esophagalgia |
pain in the esophagus |
| esophageal |
pertaining to the esophagus |
| esophagectomy |
surgical removal of a segment of the esophagus |
| esophagitis |
inflammation of the esophagus |
| esophagogastroduodenoscopy |
the process of looking into the esophagus, stomach, and initial segment of the intestines |
| esophagogastroplasty |
surgical revision of the esophagus and stomach |
| esophagoscopy |
the process of looking into the esophagus |
| euglycemia |
condition of perfect blood sugar |
| eupepsia |
condition of perfect digestion |
| falciform |
liver ligament that is shaped like a sickle |
| fecal |
pertaining to feces |
| feces |
the waste expelled from the anus as the last step of digestion |
| filiform |
the most common type of papillae on the tongue; shaped like hairs and do not contain taste buds |
| fistula |
abnormal connection between two structures, such as the rectum and vagina |
| flatus |
expulsion of intestinal gases from the anus |
| foliate |
papillae on the tongue, with taste buds, that are leaf-shaped |
| fundus |
the part of a bottle-shaped structure like the stomach that is opposite the opening |
| fungiform |
papillae on the tongue, with taste buds, that are mushroom-shaped |
| gallbladder |
the organ where bile made by the liver is stored, until it is released into the duodenum via the common bile duct |
| gastralgia |
pain in the stomach |
| gastrectomy |
surgical removal of all or part of the stomach |
| gastric |
pertaining to the stomach |
| gastritis |
inflammation of the stomach |
| gastroduodenoscope |
instrument for looking inside the stomach and duodenum |
| gastroduodenostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the stomach and duodenum |
| gastrodynia |
pain in the stomach |
| gastroenteritis |
inflammation of the stomach and intestines |
| gastroenterocolitis |
inflammation of the stomach, intestines, and colon |
| gastroenterologist |
medical specialist who studies the stomach and intestines |
| gastroenterology |
medical specialty that focuses on the stomach and intestines |
| gastroenterostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the stomach and intestines |
| gastroesophageal |
pertaining to the stomach and esophagus |
| gastrointestinal |
pertaining to the stomach and intestines |
| gastrojejunostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the stomach and jejunum |
| gastromalacia |
abnormal softening of the stomach due to disease |
| gastroparesis |
weakness in the muscular contractions of the stomach |
| gastropexy |
surgical fixation of the stomach |
| gastroplasty |
surgical revision of the stomach |
| gastroscope |
instrument for looking inside the stomach |
| ghrelin |
hormone that affects appetite |
| gingivalgia |
pain in the gums |
| gingivectomy |
surgical removal of part of the gums |
| gingivitis |
inflammation of the gums |
| gingivoglossitis |
inflammation of the gums and tongue |
| gingivoplasty |
surgical revision of the gums |
| gingivostomatitis |
inflammation of the gums and mouth |
| glossopathy |
disease of the tongue |
| glossoplasty |
surgical revision of the tongue |
| glossoplegia |
weakness of the tongue muscles |
| glossorrhaphy |
suturing the tongue |
| glossotomy |
cutting into the tongue |
| glossotrichia |
disease characterized by hairy appearance of the tongue |
| glucagon |
hormone involved in glucose metabolism; causes glycogen to be broken down and glucose to be made from other sources, raising blood sugar |
| glucuronic acid |
chemical group used to modify water insoluble compounds so that they are now water soluble and may be passed in urine |
| haustrum |
periodic outpocketings of the colon that give it a segmented appearance |
| hematemesis |
vomiting blood |
| heme |
oxygen-holding chemical group; there are four heme groups per hemoglobin molecule |
| hemicolectomy |
surgical removal of a segment of the colon |
| hemorrhoid |
painful varicose veins in the anus |
| hemorrhoidectomy |
surgical removal of a hemorrhoid |
| hepatectomy |
surgical removal of the liver |
| hepatic |
pertaining to the liver |
| hepaticogastrostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the hepatic duct and the stomach |
| hepaticotomy |
surgical incision of the hepatic duct |
| hepatitis |
inflammation of the liver |
| hepatocarcinoma |
liver cancer |
| hepatocytes |
cells of the liver |
| hepatoma |
tumor of the liver |
| hepatomalacia |
abnormal softening of the liver due to disease |
| hepatomegaly |
abnormal enlargement of the liver |
| hepatopancreatic |
pertaining to the liver and pancreas |
| hepatopexy |
surgical fixation of the liver |
| hepatoptosis |
displacement of the liver out of its normal position |
| hepatosclerosis |
abnormal hardening of the liver due to disease |
| hepatosplenitis |
inflammation of the liver and spleen |
| hepatosplenomegaly |
abnormal enlargement of the liver and spleen |
| hernia |
displacement of an organ from its normal position |
| herniorrhaphy |
suturing the site of a herniation (e.g. in the abdominal wall) to keep it from recurring |
| hyperemesis |
abnormally frequent vomiting |
| hypochondriac |
one of the nine abdominal regions, lying laterally at the top of the abdomen |
| hypogastric |
one of the nine abdominal regions, lying along the midline at the bottom of the abdomen |
| hypoglossal |
underneath the tongue |
| icterus |
yellow color of the skin and eyes due to liver malfunction |
| ileitis |
inflammation of the ileum |
| ileocecal |
junction of the ileum and the cecum of the large intestine |
| ileocolitis |
inflammation of the ileum and colon |
| ileocolostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the ileum and the colon |
| ileorrhaphy |
suturing the ileum |
| ileostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the ileum and the body surface |
| ileotomy |
cutting into the ileum |
| ileum |
final segment of the small intestine, between the jejunum and large intestine |
| ingestion |
taking food into the body |
| inguinal |
pertaining to the groin |
| insulin |
hormone involved in glucose metabolism; causes glucose to be moved from bloodstream into cells, lowering blood sugar |
| insulinotropic |
drug which affects insulin levels |
| intestinal |
pertaining to the intestines |
| islet |
small collections of endocrine cells in the pancreas that manufacture insulin, glucagon, and other hormones |
| jaundice |
yellow color of the skin and eyes due to liver malfunction |
| jejunitis |
inflammation of the jejunum |
| jejunoileitis |
inflammation of the jejunum and ileum |
| jejunorrhaphy |
suturing the jejunum |
| jejunostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the jejunum and the body surface |
| jejunotomy |
cutting into the jejunum |
| jejunum |
middle segment of the small intestine, between the duodenum and ileum |
| labial |
pertaining to the lips |
| lacteal |
lymph vessel which runs in the center of each intestinal villus and carries lipids into the bloodstream for processing by the liver and other organs |
| lamina propria |
a layer specific to the digestive system; lies between the epithelium lining the intestinal lumen and the muscular layer underneath |
| laparocele |
herniation of the abdominal wall |
| laparoenterostomy |
surgical creation of a communication between the intestines and the body surface through the abdominal wall |
| laparoscope |
instrument for looking inside the abdomen |
| laparoscopy |
the process of looking into the abdomen through a small incision |
| laparotomy |
cutting into the abdomen |
| lingual |
pertaining to the tongue |
| lipase |
enzyme which breaks down fats |
| liver |
organ which has primary responsibility for making blood proteins; processing non-glucose sugars and toxins; managing lipids; converting blood breakdown products to bile |
| lobule |
divisions of the liver or other organs with visible creases |
| lumbar |
pertaining to the lower back |
| lumen |
anatomical passageway; the open part of a tube-like organ |
| lysozyme |
enzyme used within cells to break down toxins and other unwanted substances |
| macrocyte |
abnormally enlarged red blood cell (see Unit 8); found in pernicious anemia |
| malabsorption |
poor or altered absorption of nutrients, for example due to a genetic or metabolic condition |
| mesenteric |
pertaining to the middle part of the intestines |
| mesial |
used in place of medial to refer to teeth; towards the midline |
| mucosa |
the epithelium, lamina propria, and muscular layer of the gut tube; collectively, the three mucus-secreting layers surrounding the lumen |
| muscularis |
layer of the gut tube with prominent smooth muscle cells |
| myenteric |
one of the plexi of the enteric nervous system |
| nasogastric |
a tube introduced through the nose, pharynx, and esophagus to access the stomach |
| occlusal |
tooth surface that contacts other teeth |
| odontalgia |
pain in the teeth |
| odontectomy |
surgical removal of a tooth |
| odontoclasis |
breakdown of teeth |
| odontodynia |
pain in the teeth |
| oral |
pertaining to the mouth cavity |
| orthodontic |
pertaining to the straightening and spacing of teeth |
| orthodontist |
dentist who specializes in straightening and spacing teeth |
| oxygenase |
enzyme that adds an oxygen to help in processing of heme |
| pancreatoduodenectomy |
surgical removal of the head of the pancreas and the duodenum to treat pancreatic cancer |
| pancreatolith |
a stone in the pancreas |
| pancreatolithectomy |
surgical removal of a stone from the pancreas |
| pancreatolithiasis |
the presence of a stone in the pancreas |
| parietal |
the layer of membranes lining the abdominal organs that is closest to the body wall |
| parotid |
the largest of the salivary glands |
| pancreatography |
process of imaging the pancreas |
| pepsin |
the first enzyme discovered; found in the stomach, where it breaks down proteins |
| pepsinogen |
protein precursor to pepsin; when it reacts with stomach acid, pepsin is produced |
| periodontal |
pertaining to the connective tissue holding the teeth in place |
| periodontitis |
inflammation of the connective tissue holding the teeth in place |
| peristalsis |
autonomic "milking" movements of the muscular layer of the gut tube resulting in movement of substances from mouth to anus |
| peritoneoscopy |
laparoscopy |
| peritoneotomy |
laparotomy |
| peritoneum |
membrane lining the abdominal cavity |
| peritonitis |
inflammation of the peritoneum |
| pernicious |
slow but destructive process |
| plicae circulares |
"circular pleats": folds in the intestines that help in the mixing of chyme with enzymes and microorganisms |
| proctitis |
inflammation of the rectum |
| proctologist |
medical specialist who studies the rectum |
| proctology |
medical specialty of the rectum |
| proctopexy |
surgical fixation of the rectum |
| proctoptosis |
displacement of the rectum out of its normal position |
| proctoscope |
instrument for looking inside the rectum |
| propria |
"proper"; "one's own"; a layer unique to the gut tube, between the epithelium lining the lumen and the muscularis layer beneath |
| propulsion |
movement of substances through the gut tube |
| purgative |
drug used to purge the gastrointestinal tract; laxative |
| pyloric |
pertaining to a region of the stomach near its exit to the duodenum (e.g. the pyloric valve which regulates passage of materials from stomach to duodenum) |
| pylorus |
a region of the stomach near its exit to the duodenum |
| quadrate |
liver lobule shaped like a square |
| rectalgia |
pain in the a** |
| rectitis |
inflammation of the rectum |
| rectopexy |
surgical fixation of the rectum |
| rectoplasty |
surgical revision of the rectum |
| rectum |
the final segment of the colon; between the sigmoid colon and the anus |
| reflux |
abnormal backward movement of material in the gut tube; usually refers to stomach acid in the esophagus |
| saliva |
watery mixture produced by salivary glands that aids in digestion |
| sclerosing |
causing the abnormal hardening |
| secretin |
hormone released by the duodenum (to indicate increased acidity) and which acts on the liver and pancreas |
| segmentation |
mixing or churning movement in the intestines |
| serosa |
membrane lining the organs of the abdominal cavity |
| sialadenectomy |
surgical removal of a salivary gland |
| sialadenitis |
inflammation of a salivary gland |
| sialadenosis |
swelling of a salivary gland not caused by inflammation or cancer |
| sialagogic |
drug that causes increased production of saliva |
| sialoadenectomy |
surgical removal of a salivary gland |
| sialoadenitis |
inflammation of a salivary gland |
| sialoadenosis |
swelling of a salivary gland not caused by inflammation or cancer |
| sialoangiectasis |
dilation of the blood vessels of a salivary gland |
| sialolith |
stone in a salivary gland |
| sialolithiasis |
the presence of a stone in a salivary gland |
| sialolithotomy |
cutting into a salivary gland to remove a stone |
| sialorrhea |
abnormal flow from a salivary gland |
| sialostenosis |
a narrowed or blocked duct in a salivary gland |
| sigmoid |
shaped like the Greek letter sigma; S-shaped |
| sigmoidoscope |
instrument for looking inside the sigmoid colon |
| sigmoidoscopy |
the process of looking into the sigmoid colon |
| steatorrhea |
fatty stools |
| stenosis |
narrowing or blockage of a passage, such as the intestines |
| stercobilin |
excreted blood breakdown products in the feces; gives the feces a brown color |
| stercobilinogen |
chemical that gives rise to stercobilin |
| stomatitis |
inflammation of the mouth |
| stomatodynia |
pain in the mouth |
| stomatogastric |
pertaining to the mouth and stomach |
| stomatomycosis |
fungal infection of the mouth |
| stomatoplasty |
surgical revision of the mouth |
| stomatosis |
disease of the oral cavity |
| sublingual |
underneath the tongue |
| submucosal |
one of the plexi of the enteric nervous system |
| sucrase |
enzyme which breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose |
| Taenia |
genus name for tapeworms; Taenia saginata is the beef tapeworm while Taenia solium and Taenia asiatica are pork tapeworms found in undercooked meat |
| tenesmus |
straining, as when a patient tries to empty an already empty bowel |
| trypsin |
the second enzyme discovered; digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins |
| ulcerate |
cause the formation of an open wound |
| ulcerative |
causing the formation of an open wound |
| umbilical |
one of the nine abdominal regions, lying in the center of the grid and centered on the umbilicus ("belly button") |
| unconjugated |
bilirubin that is not water-soluble (its normal state) |
| vallate |
papillae on the tongue, with taste buds, that are shaped like a castle and moat (valley) |
| vermiform |
shaped like a worm |
| villus |
tiny, threadlike projection of the intestinal wall which increases the surface area for absorption and digestion |
| vitamin |
chemical needed to help in the body's biochemical reactions; generally aids enzymes to work more efficiently |
| voluntary |
under a person's conscious control |
