| A | B |
|---|
| banding | Application of rubber or plastic bands to bleeding vessels. |
| barium (sulfate) | A substance used for radiographic visualization |
| barium enema | An x-ray examination of the entire colon. A contrast medium (barium) is inserted as an enema into the rectum. The test allows the visualization of the colon on an x-ray picture. If polyps or cancer are present, they can usually be seen on this type of x-ray. |
| barium x-ray | A radiologic examination of either the upper or the lower gastrointestinal tract where a liquid, barium, is given in the form of a drink or an enema, to better visualize internal organs. |
| Barrett’s esophagus | An esophageal condition where the distal esophagus is covered by columnar (lining of the stomach) rather than squamous epithelial cells (normal lining of the esophagus). |
| basal | Relating to, situated at, or essential for maintaining the fundamental vital activities of an organism. |
| basement membrane | A thin membranous layer of connective tissue that separates a layer of epithelial cells from the underlying lamina propria. |
| benign | mild character of an illness; nonmalignant character of a tumor |
| benign tumors | Tumors or growth which are non-cancerous. These generally grow slowly and do not invade adjacent organs or spread (metastasize). Some benign tumors may become malignant. |
| beta blockers | Drugs which interfere with stimuli transmission through the pathways that would normally allow sympathetic nerve inhibiting stimuli to be effective. |
| bezoar | A concretion of various substances located in the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., tricho - hair, phyto - food). |
| bifurcation | Dividing into two branches or two parts. |
| bilateral | Affecting both right and left sides of the body or the right and left portions of an organ. |
| bile acids | Any of several steroid acids (as cholic acid) that occur in the bile usually in the form of sodium salts conjugated with glycine or taurine. |
| bile duct | A duct or a tube by which bile passes from the liver or the gallbladder to the duodenum. |
| bile | green fluid which is produced by the liver and which aids in the digestion of fats. It is transported from the liver to the duodenum by the bile duct. When the flow of bile is blocked, patients may become jaundiced (yellow-skinned). |
| biliary colic | Spasm and pain in the bile ducts often associated with a gallstone. |
| biliary | Relating to the conveyance of bile or affecting bile conveying structures. |
| bilirubin | This is a chemical produced when old or damaged blood cells break down. The liver chemically processes bilirubin so that it can dissolve in water and be excreted through the urine. |
| bilobar | Relating to or having two lobes. |
| biofeedback | A process providing a person with visual or auditory information about the autonomic physiologic of his/her body, such as blood pressure, ususlly through use of an instrument. |
| biopsy | The removal and microscopic examination of a tissue sample. |
| biosynthesis | The formation of chemical compounds by a living organism. |
| bipolar | An electrotherapeutic treatment having two poles. |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | A formula to determine obesity calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of the person's height in meters. |
| body of the pancreas | The middle part of the gland between the neck and the tail. The superior mesenteric blood vessels run behind this part of the gland. |
| bolus | A dose of medication or a lump of chewed food ready to be swallowed. |
| borborygmi | Rumbling sounds made by the movement of gas in the intestine. |
| botulinum toxin | A potent neurotoxin from the microorganism Clostridium botulinum. |
| bougie | A flexible, tapered, tube-like instrument for enlarging tube-like organs. |
| bougienage | The widening of a tubular cavity with the use of a bougie. |
| brachytherapy | The placement of radioactive sources in contact with or implanted into tumor tissue for treatment for a specified time. This provides a high absorbed dose of radiation directly to tumor tissue and a very low dose to surrounding normal tissue. |
| bradygastria | A decrease in gastric contractions. |
| brainstem | A portion of the brain continuous with the spinal cord. |
| bronchoscopy | Examination of the tracheobronchial tree using a bronchoscope. |
| Budd-Chiari syndrome | A syndrome in which the hepatic vein is obstructed resulting in portal hypertension. |
| bursa | A closed sac filled with synovial fluid found in areas subject to friction |
| cachexia | A state of poor health, malnutrition and wasting which may occur with chronic diseases. |
| calcification | The process by which organic tissue becomes hardened by the deposition of lime salts in the tissues. |
| calcitonin | A hormone produced by the thyroid gland that lowers blood calcium levels. |
| calcium bilirubinate | The composition of gallstones. |
| calcium channel blockers | A group of drugs that slows the influx of calcium ions into the muscle cells. This results in decreased arterial resistance and decreased myocardial oxygen demands. |
| calculi | Commonly called stones, they are an abnormal formation in the body. A calculus is usually composed of mineral salts and can occur in the kidneys, gallbladder, bile duct, pancreas or the urinary tract. |
| Canal of Hering | Refers to the smallest tributary bile duct adjacent to the hepatocyte. |
| canaliculi | A minute canal in a bodily organ or structure, a narrow space between cells or in the cords of cells which make up a liver lobule. |
| cancer | A general term for more than a hundred diseases that are characterized by uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells. Cancer cells may spread locally or through the blood stream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. |
| cannula | A small tube for insertion into a body cavity or into a duct or vessel. |
| cannulation | The insertion of a flexible tube into a duct or cavity. |
| capillaries | Any of the smallest blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules and forming networks throughout the body. |
| caput medusae | A pattern of dilated, superficial veins that radiate from the umbilical area. |
| carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) | A tumor marker, antigen found in blood of patients with colon cancer and some other diseases. |
| carcinogenicity | Relating to or pertaining to the ability to cause the development of cancer. |
| carcinoid | A benign or a malignant tumor arising from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. |
| carcinoma | A malignant tumor originating from epithelial tissue. |
| cardia | The part of the stomach that adjoins the esophagus. |
| cardiomyopathy | A typically chronic disorder of heart muscle that may involve hypertrophy and obstructive damage to the heart. |
| catalase | a protein that catalyzes (influences the rate of) the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. |
| catalyze | To bring about a change (especially to increase) in the rate of a chemical reaction that is caused by material that is basically unchanged at the end of the reaction. |
| cathartics | A purgative that causes bowel movements. |
| catheter | A small, flexible tube inserted into the body to inject or remove fluids. |
| catheterize | The introduction of a hollow, flexible tube into a cavity or organ to inject or remove fluid. |
| caudad | Toward the tail, or the posterior end. |
| cautery | A means of destroying tissue by electricity, freezing, heat, or corrosive chemical. |
| cecum | Part of the anatomy of the colon. An area that forms the first part of the large intestine. It is located below the entrance of the ileum. |
| celiac axis | Of or relating to the line that passes through the center of the abdominal cavity. |
| celiac disease | A childhood chronic nutritional disturbance characterized by defective digestion and fat utilization. It is characterized by abdominal distention, diarrhea, and fatty stools. |
| celiac ganglia | Either of a pair of collateral sympathetic ganglia that are the largest of the autonomic nervous system and lie one on each side of the celiac artery near the adrenal gland on the same side. |
| celiac plexus | The celiac plexus (nerves), is located behind the stomach, in front of the aorta at the origin of the celiac artery. Injection of this site with drugs may reduce abdominal pain. |
| celiac | Of or relating to the abdominal cavity. |
| central venous line | A device inserted and kept in a vein in order to maintain a route for the administration of fluid and medicine or for gaining access to the heart. The line permits venous access at a later time when veins might collapse and be difficult to enter. |
| cerebral | Pertaining to the brain. |
| cervical | Of or relating to a neck or cervix. |
| chemoembolization | Combined form of chemical reaction and an agent to reduce or occlude blood flow to a tumor. |
| chemoradiation | Refers to the combination of chemotherapy (drug therapy) and radiation therapy for treatment of cancer. |
| chemoreceptor | A nerve cell that is sensitive to and activated by chemical stimuli. |
| chemotherapy | The use of chemical agents in the control or the treatment of a disease. |
| Child-Pugh | A scoring system used to assess the severity of liver disease. It is based on ascites, encephalopathy, bilirubin, albumin and prothrombin time. |
| chimeric | Tissues that have diverse genetic material, i.e., part mouse and part human. |
| cholangiocarcinoma | Cancer of the bile ducts. |
| cholangiocyte | The epithelial cell of biliary ducts. |
| cholangiography | Roentgenographic visualization (x-ray) of the bile ducts after ingestion or injection of a radiopaque substance. |
| cholangitis | Inflammation of one or more bile ducts. |
| cholecystectomy | Surgical excision of the gallbladder. |
| cholecystenteric | Communication between the gallbladder and intestine. |
| cholecystitis | Inflammation of the gallbladder. |
| cholecystoduodenal | Referring to the gallbladder and duodenum. |
| cholecystokinin (CCK) | A hormone produced by the mucosa of the upper intestine(duodenal mucosa), this hormone stimulates contraction of the gallbladder and the section of enzymes by the pancreas. |
| cholecystokinin receptor antagonist | A substance used to block the cholecystokinin (a hormone) receptor. |
| cholecystolithotomy | Extraction of a gallstone through an incision in the gallbladder. |
| choledochojejunostomy | The surgical connection of the common bile duct and the jejunum. |
| choledocholithiasis | The occurrence of calculi in the common bile duct. |
| choledochus | Pertaining to the common bile duct. |
| choleliths | A gallstone |
| cholescintigraphy | New, especially referring to biochemical pathways where metabolites are biosynthesized. |
| cholestasis | The reduction of the flow of bile. |
| cholestatic | The interruption in the flow of bile from the liver to the duodenum. |
| choline | A base that occurs in many animal and plant products and is a vitamin of the B complex essential to the liver function. |
| chromoendoscopy | The use of vital stains (agents stain normal mucosa but not dysplastic or malignant) during endoscopy to identify abnormal mucosa. |
| chromosome | The carrier of genetic material of a cell (genes). The normal number of chromosomes in the human cell is 46 (23 pair). |
| chronic | lasting a long time, prolonged, long-term |
| chylothorax | A condition characterized by the effusion of chyle from the thoracic duct into the pleural space. Traumatic injury may be the cause and treatment is aimed at thoracic duct repair. |
| chyme | Semi-fluid partially digested food entering the duodenum from the stomach. |
| chymotrypsin | An enzyme present in the intestines that breaks down proteins when combined with trypsin (which is secreted by the pancreas). This enzyme is absent or reduced in patients with pancreatitis. |
| circumferential margins | Area surrounding a lesion. |
| cirrhosis | Fibrosis of the liver with hardening of the organ. This is caused the excessive formation of connective tissue with resultant contraction. |
| cisplatin gel infusion | A new palliative approach used for liver tumors in which a drug is implanted directly into the deepest aspect of a tumor and can slowly diffuse throughout the mass and act as a carrier of the chemotherapeutic drug. |
