Signinchoice
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Start Flashcard Study Return to Medical Terminology homepage| Medical Term | Description |
| -emesis | vomiting |
| -lithiasis | presence of stones |
| -pepsia | digestion |
| -phagia | eating, swallowing |
| abdomin- | abdomen |
| abdominal pain | Discomfort, distress, or agony in the abdominal cavity. Can be acute or chronic. A significant clinical symptom. |
| abdominal quadrants | Four segments of the abdomen divided by horizontal and vertical lines intersecting at the umbilicus. |
| abdominal wall | The boundaries of the abdomen, consisting of multiple layers: skin, subcutaneous fat, superficial fascia, muscles, transversalis fascia, extra peritoneal fat, and the parietal peritoneum. Extends from the thoracic cage to the pelvis. |
| aerophagia | Excessive swallowing of air. |
| aliment/o | nutrition |
| an/o | anus, ring |
| anorexia nervosa | An eating disorder characterized by a loss of appetite and an excessive fear of becoming overweight. |
| antacids | Substances that neutralize acidity in the stomach. |
| anus | The distal opening of the alimentary canal, lying in the fold between the buttocks. |
| append/o | appendix |
| appendix | A worm-like blind tube extension from the cecum. |
| appetite | Natural recurring desire, e.g. for food. |
| bariatrics | Activities related to weight reduction in patients with obesity including diet, exercise, medication and surgery. |
| bil/i | bile, gall |
| bile | An emulsifying fluid produced in the liver, stored in the gall bladder and secreted into the duodenum. |
| body mass index | A formula for determining obesity based upon a person's weight and height. |
| Bulimia Nervosa | An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by inappropriate purging (e.g. vomiting or using laxatives) to avoid weight gain. |
| butter | The fatty part of milk, separated when milk or cream is churned. A soft, solid, yellowish substance. |
| caffeine | An alkaloid drug, found in coffee and tea that simulates the central nervous system increasing alertness. It is also a diuretic. |
| calor/i | heat |
| carbohydrates | The largest class of organic compounds, including starch, glycogen, cellulose, polysaccharides, and simple monosaccharides. They constitute a main source of energy for body functions. |
| celi/o | abdomen |
| celiac disease | A disease whose symptoms are precipitated by foods containing gluten, characterized by inflammation of the small intestine. An autoimmune disease. |
| cheil/o | lips |
| chol/e | bile, gall |
| cholecyst/o | gallbladder |
| cholecystitis | Inflammation of the gallbladder. |
| cholelithiasis | Presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder. |
| cholera | An acute diarrheal disease endemic in India and Southeast Asia. |
| cirrhosis | A chronic, progressive liver disease in which liver cells are replaced by scar tissue. |
| col/o | colon |
| colitis | Inflammation of the colon. |
| colon | The main segment of large intestine. |
| colon/o | colon |
| colonoscopy | Endoscopic examination, therapy or surgery of the luminal surface of the colon. |
| colorectal cancer | A malignant neoplasm of the large intestine. |
| colostomy | The surgical construction of an opening between the colon and the surface of the body. |
| constipation | Infrequent or difficult evacuation of feces. |
| craving | An intense desire to consume a substance. |
| Crohn disease | Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract thought to be caused by inherited and environmental factors and a defect in the immune system. |
| dent/i | teeth |
| diarrhea | The onset of three or more loose or liquid bowel movements in a day. |
| dietary fiber | Indigestible carbohydrate materials. Can be soluble or insoluble in water. |
| digestion | The process of converting food into absorbable substances for metabolism and use by the body. |
| digestive system | A group of structures, organs and glands stretching from the mouth to the anus, that breakdown food substances, absorb nutrients and remove waste. |
| diverticulitis | An inflammation in the diverticula of the intestinal tract. |
| dyspepsia | Impaired digestion, especially after eating. |
| dysphagia | Difficulty in swallowing. |
| enema | A solution or compound that is introduced into the rectum with the purpose of cleansing the colon or for diagnostic procedures. |
| enter/o | small intestines |
| esophag/o | esophagus |
| esophageal varices | Abnormally dilated veins of the esophagus. High risk of spontaneous bleeding. Associated with alcohol abuse. |
| esophagus | The muscular membranous passage between the pharynx and the stomach in the upper gastrointestinal tract. |
| feces | Excrement from the intestines, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and bacteria. |
| gallbladder | A reservoir for bile located under the right lobe of the liver. |
| gallstone | A hard mass that precipitates in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder. |
| gastr/o | stomach |
| gastralgia | Pain in the stomach or abdomen |
| gastric | Pertaining to the stomach. |
| gastritis | The painful inflammation of the stomach's lining. |
| gastroenteritis | Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. |
| gastrointestinal tract | Generally refers to the digestive structures stretching from the mouth to anus, but does not include the accessory glandular organs (liver; biliary tract; pancreas). |
| gastrostomy | Creation of an artificial external opening into the stomach for nutritional support or gastrointestinal compression. |
| gingiv/o | gums |
| gingivitis | Inflammation of gum tissue. |
| gloss/o | tongue |
| hemorrhoids | Swollen veins in the lower part of the rectum or anus. |
| hepat/o | liver |
| hepatitis | Inflammation of the liver caused by viral agents. |
| herpes labialis | Cold sores caused by herpes simplex I. |
| ile/o | ileum (final section of small intestine) |
| ileectomy | Surgical removal of the ileum. |
| Ileus | Impairment of the normal flow of the intestinal contents within the bowel. |
| inguin/o | groin |
| intestines | The section of the alimentary canal from the stomach to the anal canal. |
| jaundice | Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to excessive bilirubin in body |
| labi/o | lips, labia |
| lapar/o | abdominal wall |
| laxative | Agents that produce a soft formed stool and relax the bowels, used to relieve constipation. |
| leukoplakia | A white patch lesion found on a mucous membrane that cannot be scraped off. |
| lingu/o | tongue |
| malabsorption | Inadequate intestinal absorption of nutrients. |
| malnutrition | A condition caused by insufficient intake of nutrients. |
| nausea | An unpleasant sensation in the stomach accompanied by the inclination to vomit. |
| obesity | Being too heavy for one's height. |
| or/o | mouth |
| oral | Pertaining to the mouth. |
| palat/o | palate |
| pancreas | An irregularly shaped gland, located behind the stomach, that secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum and insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin into the bloodstream. |
| peptic ulcer | Ulcer that occurs in the regions of the gastrointestinal tract which come into contact with gastric juice. |
| polyp | Abnormal tissue mass that protrudes into the lumen of the digestive or respiratory tracts. |
| proct/o | anus and rectum |
| pylor/o | pylorus (opening between the stomach and duodenum) |
| rect/o | rectum |
| rectum | The distal segment of the large intestine, between the sigmoid colon and the anal canal. |
| riboflavin | Vitamin B2. |
| saliva | The clear, viscous fluid secreted by the salivary glands and mucous glands of the mouth. It serves to moisten the oral cavity, to initiate the digestion of starches, and to aid in the chewing and swallowing of food. |
| salivary glands | Glands that secrete saliva in the mouth. There are three pairs of salivary glands: parotid gland; sublingual gland and submandibular gland. |
| sial/o | saliva |
| stom/o | mouth |
| stomach | A saclike digestive organ situated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen between the termination of the esophagus and the beginning of the duodenum. |
| stomatitis | Inflammation of the soft tissues of the mouth. Canker sores are an example. |
| stool | Feces discharged from the anus. |
| sublingual gland | A salivary gland located under the tongue in the floor of the oral cavity. |
| tongue | A muscular organ in the mouth that is covered with pink tissue called mucosa, tiny bumps called papillae, and thousands of taste buds. It is vital for chewing, swallowing and for speech. |
| trismus | Lack of ability to open the mouth fully due to decreased range of motion of the muscles of mastication. |
| vomiting | The forcible expulsion of the contents of the stomach through the mouth. |
Authors and Reviewers
Authored by Dr. Barbara A. EricksonMedically reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Keroes, MD
Last Update: 12/18/2022
