Paramedic CH 20 Abdominal &
Gastrointestinal Emergencies Exam
acalculus cholecystitis - ANS-Inflammation of the gallbladder withoutthe presence of
gallstones.
acholic stools - ANS-Light, clay-colored stools indicative of liver failure.
acute abdomen - ANS-A condition of sudden onset of pain within the abdomen, usually
indicating peritonitis; demands immediate medical or surgical treatment.
acute gastroenteritis - ANS-A family of conditions that revolve around a central theme of
infection with fever, abdominal pain, diar- rhea, nausea, and vomiting.
anal fissures - ANS-Linear tears to the mucosal lining in and near the anus, possibly
caused by the passage of large, hard stools; a cause of lower GI bleeding.
appendicitis - ANS-Inflammation of the appendix.
ascites - ANS-Abdominal edema typically signaling liver failure.
biliary tract disorders - ANS-A group of disorders that involve inflamma- tion of the
gallbladder; these include choleangitis, cholelithia- sis, cholecystitis, and acalculus
cholecystitis.
borborygmi - ANS-A bowel sound characterized by increased activity within the bowel;
also called hyperperistalsis.
cardiac sphincter - ANS-Sphincter that serves as a door way connecting the esophagus
and the stomach; controls the amount of food that moves up the esophagus.
choleangitis - ANS-Inflammation of the bile duct. cholelithiasis The presence of stones
within the gallbladder.
cholecystitis - ANS-Inflammation of the gallbladder.
cirrhosis - ANS-Early failure of the liver; characterized by portal hyper- tension,
coagulation deficiencies, and diminished detoxifica- tion.
chyme - ANS-The term given to the slurry of food that has been partially digested, then
exits the stomach and enters the duodenum.
, Crohn disease - ANS-Inflammation of the ileum and possibly other por- tions of the GI
tract, in which the immune system attacks por- tions of the intestinal walls, causing them
to become scarred, narrowed, stiff, and weakened.
dehydration - ANS-A state in which the body lacks adequate fluids because of
inadequate water intake or excessive fluid loss.
diarrhea - ANS-Liquid stool.
digestion - ANS-The mechanical and chemical breakdown of the large molecules in
food into small molecules that can be absorbed in the GI tract and converted to energy
for cellular function.
diverticulitis - ANS-Inflammation of pouches in the colon; these pouches form as a result
of difficulty moving feces through the colon. Once the pouches are formed, bacteria can
become trapped in the pouch, leading to inflammation and infection.
diverticulum - ANS-A weak area in the colon that begins to have small outcroppings that
turn into pouches; plural is diverticula.
Dunphy sign - ANS-Severe abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant with coughing; a
method for evaluating a patient for peritonitis.
endoscopy - ANS-Insertion of a flexible fiberoptic tube into the esopha- gus to visualize,
remove, or repair damaged or diseased tissue.
epigastric - ANS-The region of the abdomen directly inferior to the xyphoid process and
superior to the umbilicus.
esophagogastric varices - ANS-Dilated blood vessels of the esophagus, commonly
caused by difficulty in blood flow through the liver; the presence of these can lead to
vessel rupture.
feculent - ANS-Smelling of feces. fistula An abnormal connection between two cavities.
gastritis Inflammation of the stomach.
strangulated - ANS-Complete obstruction of blood circulation in a given organ as a
result of compression or entrapment; an emergency situation causing death of tissue.
striae - ANS-Vertical stretch marks that occur when a person loses or gains weight
rapidly.
tympanic - ANS-A loud, high-pitched sound, similar to the sound of a drum, heard on
percussion of a hollow space (eg, the empty stomach or a puffed out cheek).
Gastrointestinal Emergencies Exam
acalculus cholecystitis - ANS-Inflammation of the gallbladder withoutthe presence of
gallstones.
acholic stools - ANS-Light, clay-colored stools indicative of liver failure.
acute abdomen - ANS-A condition of sudden onset of pain within the abdomen, usually
indicating peritonitis; demands immediate medical or surgical treatment.
acute gastroenteritis - ANS-A family of conditions that revolve around a central theme of
infection with fever, abdominal pain, diar- rhea, nausea, and vomiting.
anal fissures - ANS-Linear tears to the mucosal lining in and near the anus, possibly
caused by the passage of large, hard stools; a cause of lower GI bleeding.
appendicitis - ANS-Inflammation of the appendix.
ascites - ANS-Abdominal edema typically signaling liver failure.
biliary tract disorders - ANS-A group of disorders that involve inflamma- tion of the
gallbladder; these include choleangitis, cholelithia- sis, cholecystitis, and acalculus
cholecystitis.
borborygmi - ANS-A bowel sound characterized by increased activity within the bowel;
also called hyperperistalsis.
cardiac sphincter - ANS-Sphincter that serves as a door way connecting the esophagus
and the stomach; controls the amount of food that moves up the esophagus.
choleangitis - ANS-Inflammation of the bile duct. cholelithiasis The presence of stones
within the gallbladder.
cholecystitis - ANS-Inflammation of the gallbladder.
cirrhosis - ANS-Early failure of the liver; characterized by portal hyper- tension,
coagulation deficiencies, and diminished detoxifica- tion.
chyme - ANS-The term given to the slurry of food that has been partially digested, then
exits the stomach and enters the duodenum.
, Crohn disease - ANS-Inflammation of the ileum and possibly other por- tions of the GI
tract, in which the immune system attacks por- tions of the intestinal walls, causing them
to become scarred, narrowed, stiff, and weakened.
dehydration - ANS-A state in which the body lacks adequate fluids because of
inadequate water intake or excessive fluid loss.
diarrhea - ANS-Liquid stool.
digestion - ANS-The mechanical and chemical breakdown of the large molecules in
food into small molecules that can be absorbed in the GI tract and converted to energy
for cellular function.
diverticulitis - ANS-Inflammation of pouches in the colon; these pouches form as a result
of difficulty moving feces through the colon. Once the pouches are formed, bacteria can
become trapped in the pouch, leading to inflammation and infection.
diverticulum - ANS-A weak area in the colon that begins to have small outcroppings that
turn into pouches; plural is diverticula.
Dunphy sign - ANS-Severe abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant with coughing; a
method for evaluating a patient for peritonitis.
endoscopy - ANS-Insertion of a flexible fiberoptic tube into the esopha- gus to visualize,
remove, or repair damaged or diseased tissue.
epigastric - ANS-The region of the abdomen directly inferior to the xyphoid process and
superior to the umbilicus.
esophagogastric varices - ANS-Dilated blood vessels of the esophagus, commonly
caused by difficulty in blood flow through the liver; the presence of these can lead to
vessel rupture.
feculent - ANS-Smelling of feces. fistula An abnormal connection between two cavities.
gastritis Inflammation of the stomach.
strangulated - ANS-Complete obstruction of blood circulation in a given organ as a
result of compression or entrapment; an emergency situation causing death of tissue.
striae - ANS-Vertical stretch marks that occur when a person loses or gains weight
rapidly.
tympanic - ANS-A loud, high-pitched sound, similar to the sound of a drum, heard on
percussion of a hollow space (eg, the empty stomach or a puffed out cheek).
