Download Medical Terminology

Digestive system
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The function of the digestive system is to
prepare food for intake by body cells. Nutrients
must be broken down by mechanical and
chemical means into molecules that are small
enough to be absorbed into the circulation.
Within cells, the nutrients are used for energy
and for rebuilding vital cell components.
Digestion takes place in the digestive tract.
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Functions of the Digestive
System :
 Digestion
 Absorption
 Elimination
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Digestive tract
The human digestive
system includes
mouth, pharynx,
esophagus, stomach,
small intestine
(duodenum, jejunum
and ileum), large
intestine（cecum，
appendix，colon and
rectum） and anus.
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Mouth, oral cavity
Or/o: oral cavity, oral administration
oral language
 stomat/o: stomatitis, stomatoscopy
 saliva: is the watery substance produced in the
mouths. It is produced in and secreted from the
salivary glands. Human saliva is composed mostly
of water (99.5%), but also includes electrolytes,
mucus, antibacterial compounds, and various
enzymes . The enzymes in the saliva break down
some of the starch and fat in the food at the
molecular level
 salivary amylase

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Tooth
denti- , dent(o):
Dentist: a medical professional who specializes
in the care of teeth
Dentalgia: toothache
 odont/o:
Oligodontia: the condition of naturally having fewer
than the regular number of teeth, it is also called
hypodontia
Periodontitis: refers to a number of inflammatory
diseases affecting the tissues that surround and
support the teeth

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tongue
 Lingu/o
Linguistics
Sublingual tablet: Usually a small, flat tablet intended
to be inserted beneath the tongue, where the active
ingredient is absorbed directly through the oral
mucosa and into blood; such a tablet dissolves very
promptly.
Nitroglycerin sublingual tablet: a type of vasodilator. It
relaxes blood vessels, increasing the blood and
oxygen supply to your heart. This medicine is used
to relieve chest pain caused by angina.
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esophagus
esophagus is a muscular tube whose
contractions can propel food to the stomach.
 eso- = inside, inward
phag/o= swallow
 esogastritis: Inflammation of the mucous
membrane of the stomach
 phagocyte: cells that protect the body by
ingesting harmful foreign particles, bacteria
and dead or dying cells

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Stomach
The three basic/main functions of the stomach are to kill
any bacteria ingested, break down the food into smaller
pieces to create a larger surface area for easier digestion,
and to hold food and release it at a constant rate. The
stomach is a highly acidic environment due to
hydrochloric acid production and secretion which
produces a pH range usually between 1 and 2. Combined
with digestive enzymes, such an environment is able to
break down large molecules to smaller ones so that they
can eventually be absorbed from the small intestine. A
zymogen called pepsinogen is secreted and turns into
pepsin under low pH conditions and is a necessity in
protein digestion
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gastr/o:stomach
gastritis gastroscopy gastralgia
gastrectomy gastrelcosis
 Pept/i, peps/i: digestion
pepsin: an enzyme in the stomach and which
degrades food proteins into peptides
peptic ulcer: affect the mucous membranes of the
digestive system, occur in the lower end of the
esophagus, the stomach, or in the duodenum.
dyspepsia: hard or difficult digestion

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Small and large intestine
The small intestine is the major site for digestion
and absorption of nutrients. The upper part, the
duodenum, is the most active in digestion.
Secretions from the liver and pancreas are used for
digestion in the duodenum. The pancreas secretes
digestive enzymes and stomach acid neutralizing
bicarbonate. Protease (enzymes secreted from the
pancreas) continue the breakdown of protein into
small peptide fragments and some amino acids.
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The liver produces bile, which is stored in the
gall bladder before entering the bile duct into the
duodenum. Bile emulsifies fats, making them
susceptible to enzymatic breakdown. Bile
contains cholesterol, phospholipids, bilirubin
（胆红素）, and a mix of salts. The large
intestine consists of the colon, cecum, appendix,
and rectum. Material in the large intestine is
mostly indigestible residue and liquid.
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
enter/o:
dysentery
enteric coated tablet: An oral dosage form in
which a tablet is coated with a material to
prevent or minimize dissolution in the stomach
but allow dissolution in the small intestine.
This type of formulation either protects the
stomach from a potentially irritating drug (e.g.,
aspirin) or protects the drug (e.g.,
erythromycin) from partial degradation in the
acidic environment of the stomach.
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rect/o: rectum
rectal administration: such as by suppository,
it is inserted into the rectum where it
dissolves and is absorbed into blood
circulation.
 hepat/o: liver
hepatatrophia: Atrophy of the liver
hepatoma: liver cancer

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

bile:
bil/i:
bilirubin(胆红素): the yellow breakdown product
of normal heme（血红素） catabolism. Heme is
formed from hemoglobin, a principal component
of red blood cells. Bilirubin is excreted in bile, and
its levels are elevated in certain diseases.
in jaundice（黄疸）, which is caused by
hyperbilirubinemia, the skin, mucus membrane and
whites of the eyes are stained and turn yellow
chol/e:
cholecalciferol: Vitamin D3,which can promote the
absorption of calcium.
cholesterol
cholestasis
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
melancholy:
Temperament theory :
The theory that holds that there are four basic
temperaments, i.e. melancholic (gloomy), choleric
(irritable), sanguine (cheerful), and phlegmatic
(apathetic) that are determined by the
predominance of one of the four humors, i.e. black
bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood, respectively,
to characterize a person's psychological state.
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colon/o hepat/o poly- gastr/o hemat/o chol/e
esophag/o -ectomy -emesis -stasis -itis -phagia
-megaly -scopy
1.direct visual examination of the inner surface of
the colon
2.abnormal enlargement of the liver
3.surgical removal of all or part of the stomach
4.inflammation of the esophagus
5.vomiting of blood
6.eating to much (uncontrolled)
7.stoppage of bile flow
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