Digestive system terms

chronic degenerative disease of the liver 

twisting intestine on itself 

chronic inflammation of colon with presence of ulcers 

white plaques or patches on the mucosa of the mouth

inflammation of the mouth with small painful ulcers 

fat in the feces, frothy, foul-smelling fecal matter 

black, tarry stool, feces containing digested blood

passage of fresh bright red blood from the rectum

painful, inflamed intestines commonly caused by baterial infection

swollen, twisted varicose veins in the rectal region

swollen varicose veins at lower end of esophagus 

adenocarcinoma of colon or rectum or both

telescoping of the intestines 

polyps (benign growths) protrude from the mucous membrane of colon

abnormal tube-like passageway near anus

open sore in lining of stomach or duodenum

• inflammation of the liver caused by a virus 
• hep a
• hep b
• hep c

failure of lower esophagus sphincter muscle to relax (LES)

abnormal outpouchings in the intestinal wall 

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen

loss of peristalsis with resulting obstuction of the intestines

gallstones in the gallbladder 

• Calculi (stones) 
• bilary colic (pain from blocked cystic or common bile duct)

common bile duct

anus and rectum

pyloric sphincter 

enzime

defecation, elimination of waste 

abnormal condition

meal

3rd part of small intestine 

one of four front teeth in the dental arch 

Hormone produced by endocrine cells in pancreas. Transport sugar from blood to cells and stimulates glycogen formation by the liver. 

stone

protein

substances produced when fats are digested 

small sac under liver, stores bile 

starch. glucose is stored in the form of glycogen in liver cells 

produced in stomach, necessary for digestion

belly, abdomen

• ring of muscle at end of stomach near duodenum. 
• gatekeeper
• opens when wave of peristalsis comes 

• opening to duodenum 
• (digital region of stomach)

last part of Large instestines connects colon to anus

ridges of hard palate and wall of stomach

throat

Lg. vein bringing blood to liver from instestines 

enzyme digests protein

• soft tissue within tooth 
• (nerves and blood vessels) 

• paratoid, sublingual, submadibular glands 
• produce saliva (digestive juice)

4th and last S shaped part of colon, before rectum, empties into rectum

circular muscle constricts passage or closes a natural opening 

organ that recieves food from esophagus 

organ under stomach. produces insulin and enzymes 

small elevations on tongue

salivary gland in cheek

rythmic contactions of tubular organs. moves stuff through digestion at different rates 

ring of muscle between esophagus and stomach (cardiac sphincter) 

chew

• 6th, 7th, 8th teeth from middle of dental arch 
• Premolar: 4th, 5th before molars 

rood of mouth

physical process of breaking up large fat globules into smaller ones, increasing surface area that enzymes use to digest fat

hard outtermost layer of tooth

Chem. that speeds up reaction between substances (breakdown foods) 

Tube connecting throat to stomach 

swallow

primary material found in teeth. Covered by enamel in the crown and a protective layer of cementum in the root 

first part of small intestines. 

act of removal of materials from body

fat molecules compsed of 3 part fatty acid and 1 part glycerol

soft tissue hanging from middle of soft palate 

finger like projections in walls of intestines that absorb nutrients into bloodstream

• blind pouch hanging from cecum. 
• in RLQ

• digestive juice made in liver, stored by gallbladder. Originally called gall (anger) because of bitter taste.; 
• Composed of bile colors, cholesterol and bile salts. 

pigment released by liver in bile

intestine

group of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with stress and tension

• chronic inflammation of intestinal tract 
• (terminal ileum and colon)
• (form of inflamatory bowel disease) 

gallbladder 

passage of materials through walls of small intestine into blood 

small building blocks of proteins released when protein is digested 

enzyme secreted by the pancreas to digest starch 

2nd part of small intestine

this part is always empty when body examined after death 

pancreatic enzyme digests fat 

• RUQ of abdomen. 
• secretes bile, stores sugar, iron, vitamins
• produces protein and destroys worn out RBC 

pointed dog like teeth next to incisors 

first part of large intestine

• Lg. intestine. 
• consisting of cecum (ascending, transverse and descending parts of colon) and rectum

Carries bile from liver and gallbladder to duodenum

• bilirubin 
• bile pigment

bile,gall 

mouth

uvula

mouth

palate

jejunum

tongue

lips

tongue

stomach

gums

esophagus 

face

cause 

unknown

appendix

anus

tooth

duodenum

to lead, carry

cheek

• lower jar
• mandible 

tooth

pancreas

throat 

salivary gland 

sigmoid colon

starch

gall, bile 

hydrochloric acid

sugar

glycogen, animal starch

fat lipid 

salivary gland

fat 

difficulty passing stools 

frequent passage of loose watery stool

gas expelled from stomach through mouth

gas expelled through anus 

flatulence: presence of excessive gas in stomach and intestines 

yellow-orange coloration of skin and whites of eyes caused by to much bilirubin in blood 

unpleasent sensation in the stomach associated with a tendency to vomit 

tooth decay

protusion of an organ or part, through muscle that normally contains it. 

• hiatal: upper part of stomach up to diaphram
• inguinal: bowel through abdomen

malignant tumor of stomach

malignant tumor of esophagus 

malignant tumor of the pancreas 

inflammation of pancreas

solids or fluids return to mouth from stomach 

heartburn

inflammation and degeneration of gums, teeth and surrounding bone 

inflammation of mouth caused by infection with the herpes virus

difficulty swallowing 

rumbling or gurgling noise produced by the movement of gas, fluid or both in gastrointestinal tract. 

lack of appetite

• stretching 
• dilation
• dilatation
• widening 

vomiting 

destruction, breakdown, separation

digestion

• eating 
• swallowing 

surgical repair

• drooping, sagging 
• protruding 

spitting 

bursting forth (of blood) 

suture

flow discharge 

involuntary contraction of muscles 

stopping, controlling 

tightening, stricture, narrowing 

opening 

tests for the presence of enzymes and bilirubin in blood 

alkaline phosphatase 

enzyme that my elevate in patients with liver, bone and other diseases 

can elevate in patients with liver disease and jaundice 

direct: measure conjugated bilirubin

indirect: measure unconjugated bilirubin

test for microorganisms in feces

test to detect occult (hidden) blood in feces 

X-ray images of the colon and rectum obtained after injection of barium into rectum 

X-ray images of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine obtained after administering barium by mouth

X ray examination of the biliary system performed after injection of contrast into the bile ducts. 

• percutaneous: administered through abdomin
• retrograde: through oral catheter 

a series of x-ray images are taken in multiple views (especially cross section) 

sound waves beamed into the abdomen produce image of abdominal viscera 

use of an endoscope combined with ultrasound to examine the organs of the gastrointestinal tract 

magnetic waves produce images of organs and tissues in all three planes of the body 

reducing the size of the stomach and diverting food to jejunum (gastrojejunostomy) 

visual examination of the gastrointestinal tract using an endoscope 

visual (endoscopic) examination of the abdomen with a laparoscope inserted through small incisions in the abdomen

removal of liver tissue for microscopic examination 

insertion of a tube through the nose into the stomach

surgical puncture to remove fluid from the abdomen 

alkaline phosphatase 

• alanine trasaminase 
• aspartate trasaminase 
• enzymes measured to evaluate liver function 

barium enema 

bowel movement 

bright red blood per rectum

computed tomography 

espphagogastroduodenoscopy 

• endoscopic retrograde 
• cholangiopancreatography 

endoscopic ultrasonography 

fecal occult blood test 

• gastrostomy tube 
• also called stomach tube 
• used to introduce nutrients into stomach after insertion through the abdomal wall with laparoscopic instruments 

gallbladder 

gastroesophageal reflux disease 

gastrointestinal 

hepatitis B virus 

inflammatory bowel disease 

laparoscopic assisted colectomy 

liver function tests 

magnetic resonance imaging 

nasogastric tube 

nothing by mouth 

• percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy  tube 
• feeding tube 

• percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy tube 
• feeding tube 

percutaneous trashepatic cholangiography 

peptic ulcer disease 

intravenous TPN solutions typically contain sugar, protein, electrolytes and vitamins 

tube placed in the bile duct for drainage into small pouch on the outside of body