Human Diseases and Conditions - Chapter 8 - Digestive System

Apicectomy

removal of the apical portion of a tooth root

Cholinergic

pertaining to nerve fibers that liberate acetylcholine at the myoneural junction
2) an agent that produces the effect of acetylcholine at the connections of the muscles and nerves

Colectomy

surgical removal of all or part of the colon

Erosion

wearing away of a surface

Fissures

clefts, groove, or cracks on the surface of an organ or tissue

Fistula

abnormal tubelike passageway from an internal organ to the body surface

Gangrene

necrosis or death of tissue caused by a decrease or absence of blood supply

Hematemesis

vomiting bright red blood

leukoplakia

also known as white plaque is a thickening and hardening of a part of the mucous membrane in the mouth

Ligation

tying off a blood vessel or duct with a suture or wire ligature

Lymphadenopathy

local or general enlargement of the lymph nodes or vessels

Malaise

discomfort; vague uneasy feeling of body weakness, distress or discomfort marking the onset of a disease

Metastasis

tumor cells spread to distant parts of the body

Odynophagia

burning squeezing pain while swallowing

Pseudomembranous

describing a false membrane

Retrosternal

behind the sternum

Valsalva maneuver

any forced expiratory effort against a closed airway, such as when a person holds their breath and tries to move a heavy object

Anastomoses

surgical or pathologic connection between two vessels or tubular structures, singular anastomosis

Aphthous ulcers

recurrent painful canker sores in the mouth

Diaphoretic

profuse perspiration

H2-receptor antagonist

chemical agent that blocks the interaction of histamine or acetylcholine with receptors in stomach cells; drugs that inhibit secretion of gastric acid

Hemostasis

the condition of controlled bleeding

Hepatomegaly

abnormal enlargement of the liver

Hyperemic

refers to an excessive amount of blood in a part or area

Hypovolemic shock

condition that occurs when blood in the circulatory system is decreased (e.g., hemorrhage)

Jaundiced

yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood

Lavage

cleaning out of a cavity with liquid

Malocclusion

describes specific angles of malposition and contact of the maxillary and mandibular teeth

Myalgia

muscle pain

Proton pump inhibitor

drug that blocks gastric acid secretion; used to treat ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Reflux

backward flow

Steatorrhea

presence of malabsorbed fat in the feces

absorption

...the process of absorbing or of being absorbed such as absorption of nourishment in the small intestine

antiemetic

..., a drug that prevents or alleviates nausea and vomiting

ascites

..., also abdominal dropsy or hydroperitoneum; an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling

cachexia

...a profound and marked wasting disorder, usually associated with malnutrition and such diseases as cancer, AIDS, and tuberculosis

dysphagia

...difficulty in swallowing

endoscopy

...examination of any cavity of the body with an endoscope

gastroscopy

...an endoscope for inspecting (visualizing) of the interior of the stomach

gingivitis

...inflammation and swelling of the gums most commonly caused by plaque; other causes include vitamin deficiencies, glandular disorders, blood diseases, viral infections, and the use of certain medications; pregnant women and diabetics are particularly su

hypokalemia

...abnormally low level of potassium in the circulating blood leading to weakness and heart abnormalities

inguinal

...pertaining to the groin

intussusception

...the telescoping of one part of the small intestine into the opening of an immediately adjacent part

melena

...the passage of abnormally dark tarry feces containing blood (usually from gastrointestinal bleeding)

periodontitis

...also called periodontal disease, is destructive gun and bone disease around one or more of the teeth; end result of gingivitis; contributing factors include smoking, chemotherapy, diabetes,HIV infection, stress, poor nutrition, hormonal medications and

proctoscopy

...visual examination of the rectum with a proctoscope

polyp

...A mushroom-like growth from the surface of a mucous membrane

sigmoidoscopy

...the endoscopic examination of the interior of the rectum, sigmoid colon, and possibly a portion of the descending colon

temporomandibular

...of, relating to, or affecting the temporomandibular joint

varices

...varicose veins

missing teeth

permanent teeth are missing

impacted third molars

an impacted third molar (wisdom tooth) is malpositioned, thereby preventing normal eruption

pericoronitis

inflammation of the gum around the crown of a tooth

dental caries

an infection resulting in erosion of tooth surface

abscess

a pus-filled sac that develops in the tissue surrounding the base of the root that forms when a tooth is decayed or dying or when the gums have severely receded, exposing the root, dead pulp along with invading bacteria can infect the surrounding tissues

plaque

a sticky deposit of mucus, food particles, and bacteria that builds up around the base of the teetha as a result of inadequate brushing and flossing; is considered the forerunner of caries and periodontal disease

discolored teeth

a condition in which the teeth are discolored

oral tumors

neoplasms that are benign or malignant, localized or invasive

occlusion

the relationship of the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed (bite)

temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)

a symptom complex related to inflammation, disease, or dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint; due to unbalanced activity of the jaw muscles; etiology includes malocclusion, poorly fitting dentures, rheumatoid degenerative arthritis, neoplastic diseas

mouth ulcer

also known as canker sores are lesions on the mucous membrane, exposing the underlying sensitive tissue; two most common are aphthous ulcers which occur during stress or illness and traumatic ulcers which are caused by a hot food burn, a rough denture, or

herpes simplex

a contagious, recurrent viral infection that affects the skin and mucous membranes; herpes types 1 is commonly called cold sores and fever blisters; exposure to sunshine, wind, the presence of another infection can cause the dormant virus to reactivate; n

thrush

candidiasis (fungal infection) of the oral mucosa, involving the mouth, tongue, palate, and gums, severe cases may cause the breath to smell like yeast; can occur at any age but most commonly affects young children and the elderly as well as immunodeficie

necrotizing periodontal disease

formerly called acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (trench mouth), sometimes called Vincent's angina, is a common infection affecting the gums and anchoring structure of the teeth; may result in a metallic taste in the mouth along with bad breath; et

oral leukoplakia

hyperkeratosis or epidermal thickening of the buccal mucosa, palate, or lower lip; until proven otherwise should be considered precancerous; may develop at any age but is more common in the elderly; etiologies include chronic irritation (such as the frict

oral cancer

includes squamous cell carcinoma (90%) or adenocarcinoma (10%) of the lips (most common area), cheek mucosa, anterior tongue, floor of the mouth, hard palate, and upper and lower gingiva

gastroesophageal reflux disease

(GERD) clinical manifestations of regurgitation of stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus, frequently occurring at night; mild episodes may be described by patient as heartburn; normal reflux can result from overeating, pregnancy, or weight gain

esophageal varices

dilated submucosal veins that develop in patient with underlying portal hypertension and may result in serous upper gastrointestinal bleeding; may be asymptomatic until rupture occurs causing massive hemorrhage, with rupture patient experienced hematemesi

esophagitis

inflammation and tissue injury of the esophagus; caused from the reflux of the acid contents of the stomach resulting from a defect of the cardiac sphincter may also appear as a GI manifestation of HIV infection; erosive esophagitis may be caused by takin

corrosive pharyngitis

severe inflammation of the esophagus resulting from ingestion (children- accidental, adults-attempted suicide) of a caustic chemical (alkali or acid) that causes tissue damaging; degree of damage to the esophageal tissue varies from pain and inability to

esophageal cancer

occurs in the esophagus, the muscular organ that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. It is lined for most of its length with squamous epithelium, which can give rise to squamous cell carcinoma; the columnar epithelium near the esophagogastric junc

gastric and duodenal peptic ulcers

when the protective mucous membrane of the stomach or upper intestinal tract breaks down, the lining is prone to ulceration. These internal surface sores, or lesion, can be acute or chronic, clustered or singular, and shallow or deep; deep sores involve t

gastritis

an inflammation of the lining of the stomach; the acute form is a common disorder; main cause associated with Helicobacter pylori infection;

gastric cancer

occurs in the stomach, the organ located in the upper abdomen that connects the esophagus and the small intestine; most common physical finding is a palpable abdominal mass usually indicative of advanced disease; Helicobacter pylori infection in early lif

acute appendicitis

an inflammation of the appendix, a narrow pouch about 3-1/2 inches long that extends from the first part of the large intestine (cecum); most common ages 20-40

hiatal hernia

a defect in the diaphragm that permits a segment of the upper part of the stomach to protrude through the esophageal opening of the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity; caused by a congenital defect or weakness of the diaphragm due to obesity, old age, tra

abdominal hernia

a condition in which an organ protrudes through an abnormal opening or weak spot in the muscle and membranes in the abdominal wall; inguinal canal and umbilicus are common sites for hernias;

Crohn's disease

a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder of the alimentary canal in which all alyers of the bowel wall are edematous and inflamed; acute symptoms can mimic appendicitis; considered medically incurable, therapy is aimed at treating the acute disease flar

ulcerative colitis

a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting the mucosa and submucosa of the rectum and colon

gastroenteritis

a general term for acute inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines; common syndrome of gastroenteritis is traveler's diarrhea, caused by disease-causing bacteria or parasites from contaminated food or water and producing the same symptoms a

intestinal obstruction

occurs when the contents of the intestine cannot move forward because of a partial or complete blockage of the bowel; can result in blood supply to the affected are being blocked and in turn death of tissue which leads to the threat of perforation, with s

diverticulosis

also called diverticular disease; a progressive condition, common with age, characterized by out pouches (diverticula) of the mucosa penetrating weak points in the muscular layer of the large intestine; occurs particularly n the distal part of the colon,

diverticulitis

an inflammation of one or more diverticula , caused by trapped fecal matter resulting in pain in the left lower quadrant, with distention; a palpable mass may be felt; the pain sometimes appears in the right lower quadrant or in the suprapubic area; blood

colorectal cancer

a cancer that arises in any part of the colon or the rectum. It is the 3rd most common site of cancer incidence in both men and women; the third most common cause of cancer death in women; and the second leading cause of cancer death in men; should be con

pseudomembranous enterocolitis

an acute inflammation with a plaque like adhesion of necrotic debris and mucus adhered to the damaged superficial mucosa of the small and large intestine, marked by a mild to severe greenish, foul-smelling watery diarrhea (up to 30 stools daily); often re

short bowel syndrome

the small bowel fails to absorb nutrients because of inadequate absorptive surface; alteration of bowel length can be caused by disease or surgery

peritonitis

the inflammation of the peritoneum (the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the viscera), can be acute or chronic and local or generalized, occurs when the peritoneum becomes hyperemic and edematous, as fluid accumulates in the peritoneal

hemorrhoids

tumorlike lesions casused by varicose dilations of a vein in the anal canal or the anorectal area; if they are located within the rectal wall they are considered internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids are located in the anal area

cirrhosis of the liver

a chronic degenerative disease that is irreversible; it brings slow deterioration of the liver, resulting in the replacement of normal liver cells with hard, fibrous scar tissue, known as hobnail liver; left untreated results in hepatic failure and eventu

viral hepatitis

a systemic infection causing symptoms ranging from mild inflammation of the liver to severe involvement with destruction of hepatic cells; a common cause of acute hepatitis; most cases are caused by one of several viral agents described by letters of the

hepatitis A

is highly contagious and causes mild acute liver infection; incubation period varies from 15-50 days; symptoms can be mild to severe; in most cases the infection is self-limiting, liver function is fully recovered, and lifelong immunity to hepatitis A vir

hepatitis B

also known as serum hepatitis; symptoms can mimic flu; onset is more insidious and the aminotransgerase levels are higher than in HAV infection; Liver inflammation causes destruction of liver cells and necrosis, changes which can be detected in abnormal r

hepatitis C

caused by (HCV); considered a widespread epidemic, is the most common bloodborne infection in the U.S.; when symptomatic symptoms resemble those of hepatitis A but are typically less severe and sometimes without jaundice; results in gradual, insidious liv

cancer of the liver

hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary tumor of the liver that usually arises in the setting of chronic liver disease; patients exhibit only signs of chronic liver disease which include upper abdominal pain, weight loss, early satiety, and a palpable abdom

cholelithiasis

also known as gallstones; a common condition in which there is an abnormal presence of calculi or gallstones that form in the bile, caused from insoluable cholesterol and bile salts; patient may be asymptomatic until bile ducts become obstructed by the st

cholecystitis

an acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, with infection often following the inflammation; usually associated with obstruction of the cystic duct or cholelithiasis can also be caused by trauma or other insult to the gallbladder, including infec

acute and chronic pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas with variable involvement of adjacent and remote organs; ranges from a mild and self-limiting disease to a chronic and fatal destruction of pancreatic tissue; the pancreas becomes edematous, hemorrhagic, and necrotic; the pati

pancreatic cancer

a neoplasm, usually an adenocarcinoma, occurring more often in the head of the pancreas, most neoplasms arise from the exocrine cells of the pancreas, while 1% to 2% involve the endocrine cells; Most patients experience abdominal pain, weight loss, or jau

malnutrition

a disorder of nutrition caused by primary deprivation of protein-energy (seen in poverty or self-imposed starvation) or secondary to deficiency diseases such as cancer or diabetes; protein-energy malnutrition has been described as two distinct syndromes:

malabsorption syndrome

refers to a group of disorders in which intestinal absorption of dietary nutrients is impaired; symptoms include abdominal discomfort, bloating with gas, chronic diarrhea, and abnormal bowel movements, stools may appear yellowish gray and may be greasy lo

celiac disease

also called celiac sprue is a disease of the small intestine that is characterized by malabsorption, gluten intolerance, and damage to the lining of the intestine; has multisystem effects that can produce serous health problems, end result is malabsorptio

food poisoning

an illness resulting from the eating of food that contains bacterial toxins and viral, chemical, or toxic substances; the onset is sudden, with rumbling stomach sounds, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea with abdominal pain and cramps, malaise, and fever, symptom

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder linked to a psychological disturbance in which hunger is denied by self-imposed starvation, resulting from a distorted body image and compulsion to be thin; typical pt is female adolescent, who is meticulous, is a high achiever, and ref

bulimia

a behavioral disorder characterized by recurring episodes of binge eating followed by self-induced vomitting or purging, usually in secret, fueled by a morbid fear of becoming fat; vomiting can result in poor dentition, pharyngitis, esophagitis, aspiratio

motion sickness

a loss of equilibrium experienced during motion; pt may experience nausea and vomiting when riding in a motor vehicle, boat, airplane, or other means of transportation; results from the fluid in the semicircular canals of the ears becoming dislocated beca

fulminant

occurring with great intensity; refers to severe pain with sudden onset

adenocarcinoma

Carcinoma derived from glandular tissue