Term
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Definition
Stomach
Gastritis, Gastrectomy |
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Term
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Definition
Liver
Hepatitis (inflammation of), hepatoma (tumor of) |
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Term
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Definition
Gall, bile
Cholecystitis, cholecystectomy (inflammation of, removal of gallbladder) |
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Term
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Definition
Bladder, sac
Cholecystitis, cholecystectomy (inflammation of, removal of gallbladder) |
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Term
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Definition
Vomit
Emesis (vomiting), emetic (stimulating vomiting), antiemetic (stopping vomiting) |
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Term
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Definition
Stone
Cholelithotomy (removal of gall stones) |
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Term
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Definition
Abdominal wall
Laparotomy (cutting into the abdomen) |
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Term
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Definition
To puncture
Abdominocentesis (puncturing and draining) |
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Term
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Definition
To crush
Cholelithotripsy (smashing gall stones with sound waves)
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Abnormal condition
Cholelithiasis (presence of gall stones causing symptoms) |
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Term
| Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) |
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Definition
| -Severe “heartburn” in laymen’s language. Weakness of the valve between the esophagus and stomach may allow stomach acid to reflux (regurgitate, backup) into the esophagus and irritate and inflame the lining. This results in chest pain which can mimic that of angina (pain of cardiac ischemia or an MI). |
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Term
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Definition
| - Literally means “yellow” in French. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes from a backup of bile metabolic by-products from the blood into body tissues. May result from blockage of the ducts draining bile from the liver into the intestines or excessive breakdown of red blood cells. Hemoglobin from destroyed RBCs is broken down, and in part, ends up in bile secretions. |
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Term
| Diverticulosis/diverticulitis |
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Definition
| – Small pouches may form along the walls of the large intestine called diverticuli which if symptomatic, causing discomfort to the patient, is called diverticulosis. These abnormal outpocketings may collect and not be able to empty fecal material which can lead to inflammation, diverticulitis. |
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Term
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Definition
| - Literally, “orange-yellow” in Greek. A degenerative disease of the liver that often develops in chronic alcoholics, but can have other causes. The name refers to the gross appearance of the organ. |
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Term
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Definition
| – A potential complication of chronic alcoholism resulting in liver damage and obstruction of venous blood flow through the liver. The rising blood pressure in the veins between the gastrointestinal tract and liver causes engorgement of veins around the umbilicus (navel). The characteristic radiating pattern of veins is called a “caput medusae” (head of Medusa). Medusa was the “snake-haired lady” in Greek mythology. |
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Term
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Definition
| – bulging, engorged veins in the walls of the esophagus are often a complication of chronic alcoholism (see portal hypertension). The thin-walled, swollen veins are at risk of tearing resulting in severe, possibly fatal, bleeding. |
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Term
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Definition
| - Difficulty swallowing. May be related to GERD (see above), esophageal tumor or other causes. |
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Term
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Definition
| - a chronic inflammatory disease primarily of the bowel. Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea. There may also be rectal bleeding that can lead to anemia. Special X-rays and tests are needed to differentiate blank from other diseases with similar symptoms. |
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Term
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Definition
| - Inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity. Before antibiotics, people would die from peritonitis if an inflamed appendix burst. Indications of peritonitis are called “peritoneal signs”: tender abdomen, rebound pain (pain when manual pressure released from examining abdomen), board-like rigidity of abdominal muscles, no bowel sounds (gurgles). The peritoneal membrane is very sensitive to exposure to foreign substances. Contact with blood, bile, urine, pus will cause peritoneal signs. |
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Term
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Definition
| – a physician specializing in diseases of the digestive system including esophagus, stomach and intestines. These specialists do not do surgery. Patients needing surgery are referred to a general surgeon. |
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Term
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Definition
| – a physician specializing in diseases of the rectum and anus. Proctology is a surgical subspecialty. |
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Term
| Guaiac test (Hemoccult, Fecult) |
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Definition
| - a special chemical test to identify blood in the stool (feces). Blood in the stool may have many causes including cancer and hemorrhoids. |
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Term
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Definition
| - a series of X-rays of the esophagus and stomach and small intestines having the patient swallow a “milkshake” of barium. The element barium is opaque, i.e. blocks , X-rays. This procedure may be used to identify problems with swallowing, stomach ulcers, twisting of the small intestines. |
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Term
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Definition
– a series of X-rays using a barium enema to show the large intestine and rectum. This procedure can be used to identify problems such as diverticulitis/diverticulosis, and tumors.
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Term
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Definition
| - use of a flexible fiberoptic instrument attached to a video camera that can be used to directly visualize the esophagus, stomach and large bowel. Special names may be used for each area explored such as colonoscopy. |
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Term
| Ultrasonography (ultrasound) |
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Definition
| - a procedure using high frequency sound waves to visualize internal organs. Primarily used to visualize abdominal and pelvic organs, such as the pregnant uterus. |
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