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Medical Term	Description
abdominoplasty	Surgical removal of excess abdominal skin and fat and tightening of the abdominal wall. Commonly called a tummy tuck.
acarbose	A drug prescribed in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. It retards the digestion of complex carbohydrates.
achlorhydria	Absence of hydrochloric acid in gastric secretion.
aerophagy	Excessive swallowing of air caused by anxiety or improper eating habits.
ageusia	Loss of the sense of taste.
amylase	A group of enzymes that help digest starches.
amylose	The soluble constituent of starch.
anal canal	The terminal segment of the large intestine ending at the anus.
anthelmintics	Agents that destroy or prevent development of parasitic worms.
antiemetics	Drugs used to prevent nausea or vomiting.
appendicitis	Acute inflammation of the vermiform appendix.
assimilation	The transformation of food into living tissue.
avitaminosis	Disease caused by vitamin deficiency.
beriberi	A disorder caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) and characterized by heart failure and edema.
bezoar	A mass of swallowed hair, fruit or vegetable fibers, or similar substances found in the alimentary canal.
bulimia	Eating an excess amount of food in a short period of time. It is caused by an abnormal craving for food.
capsule endoscopes	A pill sized video camera encased in a capsule, designed to be swallowed and subsequently traverse the gastrointestinal tract while transmitting diagnostic images.
carotene	A red or yellow organic compound found in sweet potatoes, egg yolk, carrots, spinach, broccoli and other leafy vegetables.
casein	A nutritive milk protein containing all of the common amino acids and rich in the essential ones.
cecum	The outpouching area of the large intestine that is below the entrance of the small intestine. It has a worm-like extension, the vermiform appendix.
celiac	Pertaining to the abdominal cavity.
cellulose	The chief constituent of plant fiber. Indigestible roughage.
cholangitis	Inflammation of the bile ducts due to bacterial infection or blockage.
cholestasis	Impairment of bile flow.
chyle	The opaque, milky-white fluid consisting mainly of emulsified fats that passes through the lacteals of the small intestines into the lymphatic system.
chylothorax	An accumulation of chyle in the pleural space.
diverticulum	A pouch or sac developed from a tubular or saccular organ, such as the gastrointestinal tract.
emetics	Pertaining to or causing vomiting.
encopresis	The loss of the ability to control bowel movements.
enterocolitis	Inflammation of the mucous membrane of both small and large intestines.
enterocytes	Columnar cells of the small intestine responsible for the final digestion and absorption of nutrients, electrolytes and water.
enterostomy	Creation of an artificial external opening or fistula in the intestines.
epulis	A swelling on the gum.
esophageal achalasia	Failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, resulting in functional obstruction of the esophagus, and dysphagia.
esophagitis	Inflammation of the esophagus.
gastrectomy	Excision of part or all of the stomach.
gastric absorption	Uptake of substances via the stomach.
gastroparesis	Chronic delayed gastric emptying.
gleason score	A method of classifying malignancy of prostate cancers.
glossitis	Inflammation of the tongue.
glycemic load	A quantitative value of a measured amount of a specific food that is equal to the glycemic index of that food multiplied by the carbohydrate content of that food.
glycine	A non-essential amino acid that is a major component of gelatin and silk fibroin. It used therapeutically as a nutrient.
heartburn	Substernal pain or burning sensation, usually associated with regurgitation of gastric juice into the esophagus.
hepatic	Pertaining to the liver.
hepatoblastoma	A malignant neoplasm occurring in young children, primarily in the liver,
hepatocytes	A parenchymal liver cell.
hepatoma	A malignant tumor of the liver
hyperphagia	Overeating.
ileitis	Inflammation of any segment of the ileum.
ileostomy	A surgical construction of an opening into the ileum on the abdominal wall.
ileum	The distal and narrowest portion of the small intestine, between the jejunum and the ileocecal valve of the large intestine.
intussusception	The movement of a bowel segment into an adjacent segment in the manner of a telescope. The condition is commonest in children.
inulin	A starch found in the tubers and roots of many plants. It is used as a diagnostic aid in tests of kidney function
jejunal	Pertaining to the jejunum
jejunum	Part of the small intestine, connecting the duodenum to the ileum.
lactase	An enzyme secreted by the small intestine glands that convert lactose into glucose and galactose.
lingual	Pertaining to or near the tongue.
lipolysis	The metabolic process of breaking down of fat.
lysine	An essential amino acid.
megacolon	Extreme dilatation of the colon.
mesenteric	Relating to the double layer of peritoneum suspending the intestine from the posterior abdominal wall.
mucositis	An inflammation of a mucous membrane, such as the lining of the mouth and throat.
norovirus	A virus associated with epidemic gastroenteritis.
obstipation	Severe constipation caused by obstruction in the intestines.
odynophagia	Painful swallowing.
omentum	A double-layered fold of peritoneum that attaches the stomach to other organs in the abdominal cavity.
ori-	mouth
oropharynx	The middle portion of the pharynx that lies posterior to the mouth, inferior to the soft palate, and superior to the base of the tongue and epiglottis.
ostomy	Surgery to create an artificial opening (stoma) into the urinary or gastrointestinal canal.
pancreatectomy	Removal of the pancreas.
parotid gland	Either of the pair of salivary glands that lie on the sides of the face immediately below and in front of the ear.
parotitis	Inflammation of the parotid gland.
pecten	The middle, narrow zone in the anal canal.
pellagra	A disease characterized by scaly dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia caused by a deficiency of niacin and protein in the diet.
perihepatitis	Inflammation of the peritoneal capsule of the liver
peristalsis	A movement, caused by sequential muscle contraction, that pushes the contents of the intestines or other tubular organs in one direction.
peritoneal absorption	Uptake of substances from the peritoneal cavity.
peritoneal cavity	The space enclosed by the peritoneum. It is divided into two portions, the greater sac and the lesser sac or omental bursa, which lies behind the STOMACH. The two sacs are connected by the foramen of Winslow, or epiploic foramen.
polyps	Discrete abnormal tissue masses that protrude into the lumen of the digestive tract or the respiratory tract.
portal vein	A vein that conducts blood from the digestive organs, spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder to the liver.
postprandial	After a meal.
proctocolitis	Inflammation of the rectum and the colon.
proctoscope	Endoscope for examination of the rectum and anus.
proteolysis	The decomposition of proteins into peptides and amino acids by enzymes in the digestive tract.
pylorus	The region of the stomach at the junction with the duodenum.
pyrosis	Substernal pain or burning sensation, usually associated with regurgitation of gastric juice into the esophagus. Also called heartburn.
retention	The ability of the digestive system to hold fluids and food.
sialadenitis	Inflammation of a salivary gland.
sialorrhea	Excessive salivary flow.
supraglottitis	Inflammation of the of the laryngeal tissue above the glottis, particularly the epiglottis.
tenesmus	A straining but ineffective attempt to urinate or defecate.
typhlitis	Inflammation of the cecum.
uvula	A fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate that hangs above the opening of the throat.

Authors and Reviewers

Authored by Dr. Barbara A. Erickson
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Keroes, MD
Last Update: 12/18/2022