Globetrotter's Pocket Doc - the only English international medical communication book for travelers to foreign countries

Abdomen:

The area between the chest and hips which contains multiple organs of the digestive tract including the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. It also contains the blood vessels and tissues that support these organs.

Absorption:

The traversal of nutrients from the small intestine through the cells lining the small intestine and subsequently into the blood vessels. It includes the process within the small intestine of breakdown of ingested food into fats, proteins (amino acids) and carbohydrates. Specific areas of the small intestine then absorb these nutrients through the cell walls.

Achalasia:

A disorder of the esophagus in which the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is continuously contracted resulting in chest pain and symptoms of heartburn. This causes dilation of the esophagus as well as difficulty passing food into the stomach.

Achlorhydria:

A condition characterized by decreased or complete absence of HCL (hydrochloric acid) in the stomach. More common in elderly patients.

Aerophagia:

The active swallowing of air. This causes frequent belching. Often times patients do not suspected they are swallowing air.

Alactasia:

The complete absence of the enzyme, lactase. This enzyme is used by the digestive tract to breakdown lactose into glucose. Glucose can then be absorbed by the small intestine and stored in the liver for future energy requirements. The deficiency of this partial deficiency of this enzyme is called lactose intolerance. This condition is common in adults.

Alkaline Phosphatase:

An enzyme that indicates inflammation or diseases of the biliary tract. The enzyme also comes from the intestine, bones, and placenta. These separate sources can be identified by electrophoresis. This separates out the different types of enzyme.

Allagille Syndrome:

A rare liver disorder identified in neonates (or within the first year of life). In this condition bile ducts in the liver disappear. At the same time, the bile ducts outside of the liver (extrahepatic bile ducts) become very narrow. As a result, bile excretion is limited resulting in liver cell damage.

Alimentary canal:

This term is another word for the gastrointestinal tract. It refers to the entire system starting in the mouth and following through the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum.

Amebiasis:

An infection with amoeba. It may be acute or chronic. It usually causes diarrhea. Many patients have bloody diarrhea. Amebiasis may mimic Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

Amino acids:

The building blocks proteins. The body makes many amino acids but others are required from nutrients in order to manufacture proteins in the liver. Within the small intestine ingested proteins are broken down into amino acids which can then be absorbed by the small intestinal cells.

Anal fissure:

A tear in the anus or anal canal. This is usually caused by trauma to the anal canal in association with poorly deformable stools. It may itch, cause pain and bleed. Patients often report a burning sensation while feces are being passed into the toilet. Good hygiene and local analgesics (with or without topical steroids) are commonly used as treatment.

Anal fistula:

A tubular structure developing between anus in the skin. A fistula can actually connect with any part of the gastrointestinal tract or other organs within the body. A fistula is usually secondary to abscess formation. This abnormality is often associated with Crohn's disease.

Anastomosis:

The joining of two structures within the body after surgery. Common examples are colonic anastomosis in which the surgeon joins two portions of the colon together.

Anemia:

A decrease in the number of red blood cells circulating through the blood vessels resulting in decreased oxygen delivery to the peripheral tissues. Anemia can be associated with blood loss, red blood cell destruction and inadequate production.

Angiodysplasia:

These are abnormal collections of blood vessels within the gastrointestinal tract. These are also called arteriovenous malformations. Such lesions may cause slow bleeding. This can result in iron deficiency anemia. When these lesions are located within the gastrointestinal tract cauterization during endoscopy can be very effective treatment. These can recur especially if associated with chronic renal failure.

Anoscopy:

The direct visualization of the anal canal. This is different than flexible sigmoidoscopy which views of the rectum and sigmoid colon. The anoscopy views the anal canal. It is commonly used to assess fistulas, hemorrhoids and fissures.

Antacids:

These are oral medications that decrease the amount of acid present within the stomach. These medications act quickly but by different mechanisms than histamine to receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. Antacids typically act by directly neutralizing the HCL (hydrochloric acid) present within the esophagus or stomach.

Anticholinergics:

A group medications which block the cholinergic nerves within the GI tract. These are commonly used break spasms in the intestine. Commonly used medications include dicyclomine and hycosamine. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome are commonly treated with this group of medications.

Antiemetics:

A group of medications used to decrease or control nausea and vomiting.

Antispasmodics:

A group of medications used to reduce or break muscle spasms within the gastrointestinal tract. Many of these work by anticholinergic mechanisms.

Antrectomy:

The surgical removal of a portion of the stomach called the antrum. The antrum is the area of the stomach immediately before the small intestine. This surgical procedure was commonly used in patients with ulcers. It decreases the secretion of acid in the stomach by removing the portion of the stomach that helps control acid secretion. It was commonly used in the past in combination with a vagotomy (cutting of the vague nerve).

Anus:

The last opening of the digestive tract. Feces are eliminated through this area.

Appendectomy:

The surgical removal of the appendix.

Appendicitis:

An inflammation of the appendix. Patients with appendicitis often present with pain in the right lower abdomen. Pain may be vague at first. Some pain around the umbilicus (perimbilical pain) may also be present in the early stages of the disease. Treatment is involves the removal of the appendix by a surgeon.

Appendix:

A small culture tubular structure located near the joining of the small intestine in the colon. Its function is unknown. It is located at the junction of the small intestine and the cecum.

Ascites:

A condition in which there is free fluid within the abdominal cavity usually secondary to severe liver disease. Fluid within the abdominal cavity is usually not present. The identification of free fluid within the abdomen (peritoneal cavity) requires further investigation.

Atonic colon:

A condition characterized by poor muscle tone or strength within the colon. Usually associated with either a genetic neurologic disease such as Hirschsprung's or chronic laxative abuse.

Atrophic gastritis:

A chronic irritation of stomach lining resulting in the destruction of normal stomach structures.

Autoimmune Hepatitis:

A liver disease in which the body's immune system destroys liver cells. Also called Lupoid Hepatitis in the past, the correct terminology at present in Autoimmune Hepatitis. It is commonly abbreviated by AIH. There are several subgroups of AIH. In general, all treated in the same manner with corticosteroids.

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