ALH 1140 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM KEY TERMS 2026/2027 | STUDY GUIDE,
DEFINITIONS, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW
Anticholinergics - correct answer ✔✔Drugs used to reduce smooth muscle tone, motility of the GI tract
(also bladder)
ascites - correct answer ✔✔accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal (space within abdomen) cavity
Bilirubin - correct answer ✔✔pigment released by the liver in bile
Bilirubinuria - correct answer ✔✔bilirubin in urine
cachexia - correct answer ✔✔weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) - correct answer ✔✔a tumor marker indicating cancer of the colon,
stomach, pancreas, lungs, and breast
colectomy - correct answer ✔✔surgical removal of all or part of the colon
coryza - correct answer ✔✔common cold
dysphagia - correct answer ✔✔difficulty swallowing
enteropathy - correct answer ✔✔disease of the intestine
epigastric - correct answer ✔✔pertaining to above the stomach
Exudate - correct answer ✔✔fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound
fecalith - correct answer ✔✔A hard, impacted mass of feces in the colon
fissure - correct answer ✔✔deep groove
fistula - correct answer ✔✔abnormal passageway between two organs or between an internal organ and
the body surface
Gliadin - correct answer ✔✔sticky fraction of gluten
hematochezia - correct answer ✔✔blood in stool
hemolysis - correct answer ✔✔breakdown of red blood cells
hepatomegaly - correct answer ✔✔enlargement of the liver
hyperchlorhydria - correct answer ✔✔excessive hydrochloric acid
DEFINITIONS, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW
Anticholinergics - correct answer ✔✔Drugs used to reduce smooth muscle tone, motility of the GI tract
(also bladder)
ascites - correct answer ✔✔accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal (space within abdomen) cavity
Bilirubin - correct answer ✔✔pigment released by the liver in bile
Bilirubinuria - correct answer ✔✔bilirubin in urine
cachexia - correct answer ✔✔weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) - correct answer ✔✔a tumor marker indicating cancer of the colon,
stomach, pancreas, lungs, and breast
colectomy - correct answer ✔✔surgical removal of all or part of the colon
coryza - correct answer ✔✔common cold
dysphagia - correct answer ✔✔difficulty swallowing
enteropathy - correct answer ✔✔disease of the intestine
epigastric - correct answer ✔✔pertaining to above the stomach
Exudate - correct answer ✔✔fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound
fecalith - correct answer ✔✔A hard, impacted mass of feces in the colon
fissure - correct answer ✔✔deep groove
fistula - correct answer ✔✔abnormal passageway between two organs or between an internal organ and
the body surface
Gliadin - correct answer ✔✔sticky fraction of gluten
hematochezia - correct answer ✔✔blood in stool
hemolysis - correct answer ✔✔breakdown of red blood cells
hepatomegaly - correct answer ✔✔enlargement of the liver
hyperchlorhydria - correct answer ✔✔excessive hydrochloric acid
