Aerophagia
excessive swallowing of air while eating or drinking and is a common cause of gas in the stomach
Amebic dysentery
intestinal disorder caused by a parasite and has symptoms including frequent watery stools that often include blood and mucus
Anastomosis
surgical connection between two hollow, tubular structures
Anorexia nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and refusal to maintain a normal body weight
Antiemetic
medication administered to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting
Aphthous ulcers
lesions found on the soft tissues lining the mouth that look like gray-white pits with a red border (AKA canker sores)
Ascites
an abnormal accumulation of cyrus fluid in the peritoneal cavity
Bariatrics
branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and control of obesity and allied diseases
Borborygmus
rumbling noise caused by the movement of gas in the intestine
Botulism
food poisoning characterized by paralysis; often fatal
Bulimia nervosa
eating disorder characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behavior such as self-induced vomiting
Cachexia
a condition of physical wasting away due to the loss of weight and muscle mass that occurs in patients with diseases such as advanced cancer or AIDS
Cheilosis
disorder of the lips characterized by crack-like sores on the corners of the mouth
Cholangiography
radiographic examination of the bile ducts with the use of a contrast medium
Cholangitis
acute infection of the bile duct characterized by pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, fever, and jaundice
Cholecystalgia
pain in the gall bladder
Cholecystectomy
surgical removal of the gall bladder
Cholecystitis
inflammation of the gall bladder that is usually associated with the accumulation of gall stones blocking the bile
Choledocholithotomy
incision into the common bile duct for the removal of gall stones
Cholelithiasis
presence of gall stones in the gall bladder or bile ducts
Cholera
bacterial, intestinal infection that is characterized by severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration
Cirrhosis
progressive degenerative disease of the liver that is often caused by excessive alcohol use or by viral hepatitis B or C
Colonoscopy
the direct visual examination of the inner surface of the colon, from the rectum to the secum
Crohn's disease
a chronic autoimmune disorder that is most often found in the ileum and in the colon
Diverticulosis
presence of a number of diverticula in the colon
Diverticulitis
inflammation of one or more diverticula in the colon
Dyspepsia
pain or discomfort in digestion
Dysphagia
difficulty in swallowing
Emesis
to expel the contents of the stomach through the esophagus and out of the mouth (AKA vomiting)
Enteritis
inflammation of the small intestine caused by eating or drinking substances contaminated with bacterial or viral pathogens
Eructation
act of belching, or raising gas orally from the stomach
Esophageal varices
enlarged and swollen veins at the lower end of the interior of the esophagus
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
the examination of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum through a specialized endoscope
Gastroduodenostomy
the removal of the pyloris of the stomach the the establishment of anastomosis between the upper portion of the stomach and the duodenum
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
the upward flow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus, AKA gurd
Gastrostomy tube
surgical placement of a feeding tube from the exterior of the body into the stomach
Hematemesis
the vomiting of blood
Hemoccult test
lab test to detect hidden blood in the stools
Hepatitis
inflammation of the live, usually caused by viral infection
Herpes labialis
AKA cold sores/fever blisters; blister-like sores located on the lips and the adjacent facial tissue
Hiatal hernia
protrusion of the part of the stomach through the esophageal sphincter in the diaphragm
Hyperemesis
extreme, persistent vomiting
Ileus
partial or complete blockage of the small and/or large intestine that is caused by the complete stopping of intestinal peristalsis
Inguinal hernia
the protrusion of a small loop of bowel through a weak place in the lower abdominal wall or groin
Jaundice
yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes caused by greater than normal amounts of bilirubin in the blood
Melena
the passage of stool with black, and tar-like appearance, caused by the presence of digested blood
Morbid obesity
the condition of weighing two or three times or more than the ideal weight
Nasogastric intubation
placement of a tube through the nose and into the stomach
Obesity
excessive accumulation of fat in the body
Periodontium
consists of the bone and soft tissues that surround and support the teeth
Peristalsis
series of wavelike contractions of the smooth muscles in a single direction
Proctopexy
surgical fixation of a prolapsed rectum to an adjacent tissue or organ
Regurgitation
the return of swallowed food into the mouth
Salmonellosis
infectious disease of the intestines that is transmitted by food contaminated with feces, also referred to as salmonella
Sigmoidoscopy
endoscopic examination of the interior of the rectum, sigmoid colon, and possibly a portion of the descending colon
Stomatorrhagia
describes bleeding from any part of the mouth
Trismus
describes any restriction to the opening of the mouth, caused by trauma, surgery, or radiation associated with the treatment of oral cancer
Ulcerative colitis
chronic condition of unknown cause, in which there are repeated episodes of inflammation in the rectum and large intestine, that causes ulcers and irritation
Volvulus
twisting of the intestine on itself , causing an obstruction
Xerostomia
lack of adequate saliva, due to diminished, or lack of salivary gland secretions