Medical Terms

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Abdomen: area between the chest and hips that contains the stomach, large intestine, small intestine, liver, gall bladder, pancreas and spleen

Acid regurgitation: a backward flowing of stomach acid into the esophagus; characterized by a bitter or sour taste in the back of the mouth

Acute: sudden onset of symptoms

Anal fissure: a cut in anal canal

Antispasmodics: drugs that inhibit smooth muscle contraction in the gastrointestinal tract

Anus: the opening of the rectum

Autonomic nervous system: the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary actions of internal organs such as the bowel

B

Barium: a metallic, chemical, chalky liquid used to coat the inside of organs so that they will show up on an x-ray

Barium enema: test given in order to perform an x-ray examination of the large intestines; Pictures are taken after rectal instillation of barium sulfate.

Bile: secretions of the liver that aid in digestion and absorption and stimulate the muscle movements that force food through the intestinal tract

Biliary pain: a steady gripping or gnawing pain in the upper right quadrant near the rib cage, which can last 1 to 5 hours. It may be severe and can radiate to the upper back. Some sufferers of biliary pain experience pain behind the breast bone.

Biliary tract: gall bladder and the bile ducts

Biopsy: tissue sample

Bowel: the intestines

C

Cholecystectomy: the removal of the gallbladder

Colectomy: removal of part or the entire colon

Colic: intense pain caused by spasmodic contractions of one of the hollow organs, such as the stomach, intestine or gall bladder

Colitis: inflammation of the colon

Colon: the large intestine

Colonscope: a long flexible endoscope, often equipped with a device for obtaining tissue samples, used for visual examination of the colon

Colonoscopy: an endoscopic procedure in which a colonoscope is threaded up through the rectum for the purpose of inspecting the entire colon and rectum and, if there is an abnormality, taking a biopsy of it for examination under a microscope, or removing it

Colostomy: a surgically created opening of the colon to the abdominal wall, allowing the diversion of fecal waste

Constipation: reduced stool frequency, or hard stools, difficulty passing stools, or painful bowel movements

Crohn's disease: a form of inflammatory bowel disease

Chronic: a condition that is long-lasting or recurrent

D

Diarrhea: passing frequent and loose stools that can be watery; acute diarrhea goes away in a few weeks and becomes chronic when it lasts longer than 4 weeks

Distention: a swelling of the abdomen

Diverticulitis: occurs when a diverticulum becomes infected or irritated

Diverticula (diverticulosis): small pouches in the colon

Duodenum: the first part of the small intestine

E

Endoscope: a thin, flexible tube with a light and a lens on the end used to look into the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, colon or rectum

Endoscopy: a procedure that uses an endoscope to diagnose or treat a condition; There are many types of endoscopy; examples include colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, gastroscopy, enteroscopy and esophogogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Enteritis: an irritation of the small intestine

Enteroscopy: examination of the inside of the small intestine using an endoscope

Enteric nervous system (ENS): autonomic nervous system within the walls of the digestive tract; the ENS regulates digestion and the muscle contractions that eliminate solid waste

Esophagus: portion of the digestive tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach

Etiology: cause

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: the process in which a shock wave is generated outside of the body in order to break up small gallstones within the gallbladder

F

Familial: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone

Fecalith: a hard mass of dried feces

Feces: waste eliminated from the bowels

Fistula: an abnormal passage between two organs or between an organ and the outside of the body

Functional disorder: refers to a disorder or disease where the primary abnormality is an alteration in the way the body works (physiological function)

Fundus: the upper portion of the stomach

G

Gastric: related to the stomach

Gastric juices: liquids produced in the stomach to help break down food and kill bacteria

Gastritis: an inflammation of the stomach lining

Gastroenteritis: an infection or irritation of the stomach and intestines

Gastroenterologist: a doctor who specializes in digestive diseases or disorders

Gastroenterology: the field of medicine concerned with the function and disorders of the digestive system

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract: the muscular tube from the mouth to the anus, also called the alimentary canal or digestive tract

Gastroscopy: examination of the inside of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum using an endoscope

Gastrostomy (G-tube): a method of enteral feeding in which a tube is surgically or endoscopically introduced through the abdominal wall

GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease): also called acid reflux, a condition where the contents of the stomach back up into the food pipe, causing discomfort and sometimes esophageal injury

H

Heartburn: a burning sensation in the chest, usually originating in the center of the chest near the sternum, that can extend to the neck, throat and face

Hemorrhoids: veins around or inside the anus or lower rectum that are swollen and inflamed

Hereditary: genetically transmitted or transmittable from parent to offspring

Hiatal hernia: a small opening in the diaphragm that allows a part of the stomach to move up into the chest

I

Ileum: the lower 3^rd of the intestine, adjoining the colon

Imaging: tests that produce pictures of areas inside the body

Inflammation: redness, swelling, pain and/or a feeling of heat in an area of the body; this is a protective reaction to injury, disease or irritation of the tissues

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): a set of chronic diseases characterized by irritation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract; the most common disorders are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Ingestion: taking into the body by mouth

Inguinal hernia: click here to learn about hernias

Intervention: anything meant to change the course of events for someone (e.g. drug, surgery, treatment, etc.)

J

K

L

Laboratory test: a medical procedure that involves testing a sample of blood, urine or other substance from the body; Tests can help determine a diagnosis, plan treatment, check to see if treatment is working or monitor the disease over time

Laparoscopy: see Laparoscopic Surgery

Large intestine: the long, tube-like organ that is connected to the small intestine at one end and the anus at the other; The large intestine has four parts: cecum, colon, rectum and anal canal

M

Manometry: a test that measures pressure or contractions in the gastrointestinal tract

N

Nasogastric suction: a procedure that relieves pressure in the intestine

O

P

Peritonitis: an inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin membrane that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs of the body; peritonitis is very serious and can be life-threatening

pH monitoring: a thin, acid-measuring probe is placed in your esophagus for up to 24 hours to record how much acid washes back from your stomach into your esophagus

Polyp: a benign growth involving the lining of the GI tract (noncancerous tumors or neoplasms); They can occur in several locations in the gastrointestinal tract but are most common in the colon; They vary in size from less than a quarter of an inch to several inches in diameter; They look like small bumps growing from the lining of the bowel and protruding into the bowel cavity

Postprandial: after meals

Primary care physician: a doctor who manages a person's health care over time; A primary care doctor is able to give a wide range of care, including prevention and treatment, and can refer a patient to a specialist

Q

R

Rectum: the lower end of the large intestine, leading to the anus

S

Sigmoid colon: the S-shaped section of the colon that connects to the rectum

Sigmoidoscopy: examination of the inside of the sigmoid colon and rectum using an sigmoidscope (endoscope); Samples of tissue or cells may be collected for examination under a microscope; also called proctosigmoidoscopy

Small intestine: the part of the digestive tract that is located between the stomach and the large intestine

Sphincter: ring of muscle that opens and closes and acts as a valve in various areas of the GI tract

Stoma: when the colon, rectum and anus are all removed, a colostomy is necessary. The stoma is the opening in which waste is diverted through

Syndrome: a set of symptoms or conditions that occur together and suggest the presence of a certain disease or an increased chance of developing the disease

T

Thyroid gland: a butterfly-shaped structure located in the front of your neck just below the voice box

Thyroid nodule: a lump in the thyroid gland in your neck

U

Ultrasound: an imaging method in which high-frequency sound waves are used to outline a part of the body

Upper endoscopy: examination of the inside of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum using an endoscope

Upper GI series: x-rays of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum

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