Digestive System Medical Terminology

Key Vocabulary and Their Meanings

• Ain: Anus
• Appendo/Appendic: Appendix
• Buch/Buko: Cheek
• Sec/Seco: Cecum
• Cilio: Belly or abdomen
• Cellio/Child Arcelio: Lip
• Choleste/Calliste: Gallbladder
• Chlordoc: Common bile duct
  • Colotomy: Incision of the common bile duct
• Cholecystectomy: Removal of the gallbladder
• Chylosis: Abnormal condition of the lip
• Cilia: Celiac disease (pertaining to the abdomen)
• Colon/Colonic: Pertaining to the colon
  • Colostomy: New opening in the colon
  • Colonic cleanse: Pertaining to the colon
• Dent/Denty: Tooth
  • Dentibukel: Pertaining to the tooth and cheek
• Duad/Duodenum/Duadal: Pertaining to the duodenum
• Enter/Enteropathy: Disease of the intestines
• Esophago: Esophagus
• Gastro/Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach
• Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums
• Glosso/Glossopharyngeal: Tongue
• Hepato: Liver
  • Hepatoma: Tumor of the liver
  • Hepatomegaly: Enlargement of the liver
• Ilio: Pertaining to the ileocecal sphincter or valve
• Jejunum: Part of the small intestine
  • Gastrojejunostomy: New opening between the stomach and jejunum
• Labia/Labiole: Pertaining to the lip
• Lapper/Laparoscopy: Visual examination of the abdomen
• Lingual/Sublingual: Underneath the tongue
• Mandibulo: Pertaining to the jaw
• Donto/Orthodontist: Dentist specializing in straightening teeth
  • Periodontist: Dentist specializing in gums
  • Endodontist: Dentist specializing in operating within the tooth
• Oral/Palette/Palatoplasty: Pertaining to the mouth/surgical repair of the palate
• Pancreas/Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas
• Pharynge/Pharyngeal: Pertaining to the throat
• Pyloric/Pyloroplasty: Surgical repair of the pyloric sphincter
• Recto/Rectocele: Hernia of the rectum
• Cyloden/Cyaladenectomy: Removal of the salivary glands
• Sigmoid/Sigmoidoscopy: Visual examination of the sigmoid colon
• Stoma/Stomatitis: Inflammation of the mouth
• Biliary/Bilirubin: Pertaining to bile
  • Hyperbilirubinemia: Excess bilirubin in the blood
• Chlorohydro: Pertains to hydrochloric acid
• Gluc/Glyc/Glycol: Sugar
  • Glycogenesis: Production of glycogen from sugar
  • Hyperglycemia: High blood sugar
  • Glycogenolysis: Breakdown of glycogen
• Lipo/Lipoma: Tumor or fat
• Lith/Cholecystolithiasis: Condition of gallstones
• Protease: Enzyme that breaks down proteins
• Sile/Sialolith: Stone in the salivary gland
• Steet/Steatorrhea: Discharge of fats in the feces

Important Medical Concepts

• Anastomosis: Surgical creation of a new opening between body parts
• Enzymes: Such as amylase, break down substances like starch
• Prandial: Pertaining to a meal
• Abnormal Conditions: "-osis" is a condition, "-itis" is inflammation, "-ectomy" is removal, "-otomy" is incision, "-ostomy" is a new opening

Signs and Symptoms to Know

• Anorexia: Lack of appetite
• Ascites: Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
• Borborygmi: Rumbling noises in the GI tract
• Constipation vs. Diarrhea: Difficulty passing stools vs. loose stools
• Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing
• Eructation: Burping
• Flatulence: Gas expelled through the anus
• Jaundice: Yellow-orange coloration due to high bilirubin

Pathological Conditions

• Aphthous Stomatitis: Inflammation of the mouth with ulcers
• Dental Caries: Tooth decay or cavities
• Herpetic Stomatitis: Mouth infection by herpes virus
• Oral Leukoplakia: White plaques in the mouth
• Esophageal Cancer: Malignant tumor of the esophagus
• Gastric Carcinoma: Malignant tumor of the stomach
• GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Peptic Ulcer: Lesion in the stomach lining
• Hernias: Protrusion of an organ through muscle
• Colorectal Cancer: Adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum
• Crohn's Disease: Chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract
• Diverticulosis: Outpouchings in the intestinal wall
• Dysentery: Painful, inflamed intestines
• Hemorrhoids: Swollen veins in the rectal region
• Ileus: Obstruction of the intestines
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Affects the colon and small intestine
• Intussusception: Telescoping of the intestines
• IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome
• Ulcerative Colitis: Chronic inflammation with ulcers in the colon
• Volvulus: Twisting of the intestines

Diseases Related to Liver and Pancreas

• Cirrhosis: Chronic liver disease
• Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Liver cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer: Tumor of the pancreas
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas
• Viral Hepatitis: Liver inflammation due to a virus
• Cholelithiasis: Gallstones in the gallbladder

Study Tips

• Focus on memorizing the vocabulary terms and their meanings.
• Utilize flashcards to remember definitions.
• Understand that this is not an anatomy class; focus on the terminology.