DIGESTIVE SYSTEM TERMS
A. Gastrointestinal System
1. also called alimentary tract
2. combining form is alimento
B. Structures
1. Mouth (oral cavity)
a. PO = per os (orally)
b. NPO = nothing orally
c. Lips, cheeks, hard & soft palate, tongue, teeth
d. Combining form = stomato
e. Maxilla and mandible make up jaw
1) combining form for jaw = gnatho
2) prognathia = elongated mandible
3) brachygnathia = shortened mandible
f. lips = labia…..combining form = labio or cheilo
g. cheek = buccal
h. palates….hard & soft…..combining form = palato
i. tongue
1) combining form = lingual or glosso
2) dorsal surface has papillae or elevations which vary with
species
3) frenulum connects tongue to ventral surface of oral cavity
j. teeth
1) combining form = dento
2) types of teeth
a) incisors = front teeth
b) canines = long, pointed teeth between incisors and
premolars
c) premolars = bicuspids (because of 2 points
d) molars = used to grind food
3) dental formula
a) each species has its own
b) ex: K-9 is 2( I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3 ) = 42
c) need to know…K-9, feline, bovine & equine
4) tooth structure
a) enamel = hard, white covering
b) cementum = covers root
c) dentin = connective tissue surrounding tooth pulp
d) pulp = nerves, blood vessels
5) tooth terms
a) apical foramen = hole at tip of root for nerves &
blood vessels.
b) Periodontal = structures that support the teeth
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
c) Alveoli = sockets for teeth
d) Endodontics = treatment of diseases of teeth pulp
e) Orthodontics = correction of malocclusion
f) Adontia = absence of teeth
gums = gingival
1) combining form = gingivo
mastication = chewing
ptyalism = hypersalivation
deglutition = swallowing
1) combining form = phagio
pharynx = throat
1) combining form = pharyngo
2. Stomach
a. located within abdominal cavity
b. combining form = abdomino, celio, laparo, gastro
c. peritoneum = membrane lining the abdominal cavity
d. eating classifications
1) herbivores = eat only plants
2) carnivores = eat mainly meat
3) omnivores = eat plants and meat
3. Intestines
a. combining form = entero
b. gastroenterology = study of stomach and intestines
c. procto refers to anus and rectum ….ex: proctoscope
4. Liver
a. combining form = hepato
5. Gall Bladder
a. sac embedded on liver which stores bile…..which aids in
digestion of fats.
b. Combining form = chole
6. Pancreas
a. has both endocrine and exocrine functions
1) endocrine secretes insulin directly into bloodstream
2) exocrine secretes amylase, lipase & trypsin into GI tract for
digestion,
a) amylase digests starch
b) lipase digests fats
c) trypsin digests protein
3) combining form = pancreato
7. Poop terms
a. feces
b. dung
c. manure
d. bowel movement (BM)
e. excrement
f. coprophagy = eating feces
8. Misc terms
a. peristalsis = “wave” of contractions of intestines
b. ingesta = food taken orally
c. sialo = saliva or salivation
d. peritoneum = lining of abdominal cavity
e. rugae = folds within the stomach
f. chole = bile
g. prehensile = grasping….ex: prehensile lips, tail
h. preprandial = before eating
i. postprandial = after eating
j. cachexia = general malnutrition
k. cribbing = vice of horses where they bite objects and suck air
l. atresia = absence of a normal body opening
m. gastric dilation volvulus = stomach fills with air and twists
n. hemoperitoneum = blood in the abdomen
C. Diagnostic terms
1. ballotment = technique for tapping the wall of a fluid-filled mass to
bounce a solid structure against wall. Used for pregnancy diagnosis.
2. barium = radiopaque material given orally to evaluate GI using x-rays.
3. biopsy = removal of a piece of tissue for examination microscopically.
4. colonoscopy = to examine the colon…(endoscope)
5. esophagoscopy = to examine the esophagus (endoscope)
6. gastroscopy = to examine the stomach (endoscope)
7. ultrasound = imaging of internal structures using sound waves.
D. GI Pathology Terms
1. anorexia = lack of appetite
2. ascites = abnormal amount of fluid within the abdomen
3. bloat = accumulation of gas in the stomach
4. borborygmas = GI sounds
5. cholecystitis = inflammation of the gall bladder
6. cirrhosis = disease that destroys the structure of the liver
7. colic = severe abdominal pain
8. colitis = inflammation of the colon
9. dental calculi = abnormal mineral deposits on teeth…(tartar)
10. diarrhea = abnormal frequency and liquid feces
11. dysphagia = difficult swallowing
12. dysentery = enteritis with abdominal pain and diarrhea
13. emesis = vomiting
14. nasogastric tube = tube placed through the nose to the stomach
15. emetic = drug that induces vomiting
16. anti-emetic = drug that prevents vomiting
17. enteritis = inflammation of the intestines
18. epulis = benign tumor of the gums
19. eructation = belching
20. eviscerate = remove or expose internal organs
a. ex: abdominal incision breaks open
20. lithiasis = suffix meaning stones
a. ex: urolith, enterolith, fecalith
21. flatulence = excess gas in GI tract
22. gastritis = inflammation of the stomach
23. gastroenteritis = inflammation of the stomach & intestines
24. gingival hyperplasia = overgrowth of gum tissue
25. gingivitis = inflammation of the gums
26. glossitis = inflammation of the tongue
27. hematemesis = vomiting blood
28. hepatitis = inflammation of the liver
29. hepatoma = tumor of the liver
30. hepatomegaly = enlarged liver
31. hyperglycemia = increased blood sugar
32. hypoglycemia = decreases blood sugar
33. incontinence = inability to control…ex: urinary incontinence
34. inguinal hernia = protrusion of bowel through inguinal canal in groin
35. intussusception = telescoping of one part of intestine into adjacent part.
a. secondary to GI irritation such as worms, enteritis
36. jaundice = yellow discoloration of skin & mm due to increased bilirubin
a. also called icterus or icteric
37. lethargy = condition of drowsiness or indifference
38. malabsorption = impaired uptake of nutrients from the GI tract.
39. malocclusion = abnormal contact between teeth
40. megacolon = abnormally large colon
41. melena = dark stools due to digested blood
42. nausea = sensation or urge to vomit
43. fistula = abnormal connection
a. ex: oronasal fistula, recto-vaginal fistula
44. peridontitis = inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth
45. pica = eating or licking abnormal substances
46. polydipsia = increased thirst or drinking
47. polyp = small growth on a mucus membrane
48. polyphagia = excessive eating or swallowing
49. prolapse = protrusion of tissue or viscera from its normal position
50. orifice = an opening into the body
51. scours = diarrhea in livestock
52. shunt = bypass
a. ex: turtles & tortoises have a renal-portal shunt
53. stenosis = narrowing of an opening
54. stomatitis = inflammation of the mouth
55. tenesmus = straining….ineffective attempt to urinate or defecate
56. torsion = twist
57. trichobezoar = hairball
58. ulcer = erosion of tissue
E. Procedures of the GI tract
1. abdominocentesis = to remove fluid from the abdomen
2. anastomosis = surgical connection between two hollow structures (gut)
3. antidiarrheal = meds to treat diaeehea
4. bolus = a single mass of a substance given rapidly
5. colostomy = to surgically create an opening between the colon and the
body surface
6. drench = to give liquid meds orally and force the animal to drink
7. enterotomy = to make an incision into the intestine
8. gastropexy = surgical fixation of the stomach to the abdominal wall
9. gastrotomy = surgical incision of the stomach
10. laparatomy = surgical incision into the abdomen
11. trocarization = insertion of a pointed instrument into a body cavity or
organ. ( to decrease pressure usually )