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Medical Terminology – Gastrointestinal
cheil/o-lips
chol/o-bite
cholescyst/o-gall bladder
col/o-large intestine or colon
dent/o-teeth procto/o-anus & rectum
enter/o-small intestine
esophag/o-esophagus
gastr/o-stomach
douden/o-duodenum (first part of small intestine
gingiv/o-gums
gloss/o-tongue
hepat/o-liver
pancreat/o-pancreas
rect/o-rectum
stomat/o-mouth
G.I. Diagnostic Terms
Aerophagia – excessive air swallowing resulting in gas and bloating
ascites – accumulation/retention of free fluid within the abdominal cavity when the liver
stops working properly
cholecystitis – inflammation of the gallbladder
cholelithiasis (binary calculi) – presence or formation of gallstones
cirrhosis (liver) – scarring of liver tissue and resulting in poor function of the liver (final
phase of chronic liver disease)
diverticulitis – acute inflammation of the diverticula
esophagitis – inflammation of the esophagus
fistula – abnormal opening between 2 internal organs or from internal organ to surface of
the body
gastritis/gastroenteritis – inflammation of the lining of the stomach
hepatic coma – loss of consciousness due to serve liver disease
hiatal hernia – protrusion of part of stomach through the diaphragm into the space
normally occupied by the esophagus, heart, and lungs
ilelitis – inflammation of the ileum
inflammatory bowel disease – autoimmune, chronic inflammatory condition of the GI
tract (term for designating a syndrome)
irritable bowel syndrome – bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain with diarrhea
and/or constipation
malabsorption syndromes – intestine’s ability to absorb certain nutrients into the
bloodstream is negatively affected
pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas
peritonitis – inflammation of the peritoneum membrane
portal systemic encephalopathy – secondary to chronic liver disease (liver can no longer
remove toxic substances in blood)
sprue, nontropical (celiac disease, gluten enteropathy) – intestinal disorder when the body
can’t tolerate gluten
ulcer – non-healing break in the skin or tissue surface
ulcerative colitis – chronic inflammatory bowel disease primary ulceration in the colon
and rectum
G.I. Operative/Surgical Procedure Terms
Anastomosis – surgical connection of body parts, especially hollow tubular parts like
those of the GI
cholecystectomy – surgical removal of the gallbladder
colostomy – procedure where only the rectum is removed and the end of the colon is
attached to the stoma
diverticulectomy – surgery to remove abnormal pouch on the lining of the small intestine
gastrectomy – surgical removal of part or the whole of the stomach
gastroduodenal anastomosis (Billroth I) – end-to-end joining of the upper stomach to the
duodenum after resecting the lower stomach
gastrojejunal anastomosis (Billroth II) – side-to-side joining of the upper stomach with
the jejunum
gastrojejunostomy – surgical procedure in which an anastomosis is created between the
stomach and the jejunum
ileostomy – colon and rectum are surgically removed and end of the ileum is attached to
the stoma
jejunostomy – opening into the jejunum
pancreatectomy – removal of the pancreas
pyloroplasty – enlarging the pyloric sphincter (opening between stomach and SI)
vagotomy – severing of the vagus nerve, often a component of gastric surgery
G.I. Symptomatic Terms
Achlorhydria – lack of gastric hydrochloric acid secretions
anorexia – prolonged disorder of the loss of appetite
aphagia – inability to swallow
borborygmus – stomach “growling”
bulimia – excessive eating followed by purging
colic – severe, often fluctuating pain in the abdomen caused by intestinal gas or
obstruction in the intestines (often in babies)
constipation – decrease in frequency of bowel movements with straining with defecation
and/or hard stools
diarrhea – frequent or unusually liquid bowel movements
dumping syndrome – rapid emptying of gastric contents into the small intestine
dysgeusia – impaired sense of taste
dyspepsia – difficult digestion (indigestion)
epigastric – upper abdominal region
flatulence – perceived excess gas in the intestinal tract
hepatomegaly – enlargement of the liver
hyperchlorhydria – when gastric acid in the stomach is higher than normal
hypochlorhydria (achyliagastrica) – production of gastric acid in the stomach is absent or
low
jaundice – bile pigments in the skin, resulting in a yellowish color of the skin and mucous
membranes
melena – dark sticky feces containing partly digested blood, possible internal bleeding
nausea – feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit (non-specific symptom)
polyphagia – excessive hunger or increased appetite
steatorrhea – excess fat in the stool (>6g/24hrs) resulting from fat malabsorption and
causing diarrhea
Chart Abbreviations – G.I.
abd – abdomen or abdominal
B M – bowel movement
Cath – catheter/catheterization
GA – gestational age
GE – gastroenteritis
gb (or GB) – gallbladder
GBD – gallbladder disease
GBS – gastric bypass surgery
GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease
GI – gastrointestinal
GIT – gastrointestinal tract
HCL (or HCl) – hydrochloric acid
LES – lower esophageal sphincter
MOM – milk of magnesia
N/G – nasogastric
PCM or PEM – protein calorie/energy malnutrition
post-up – postoperative
prep – preparation
SI – small intestine
TPN – total parenteral nutrition