General Surgery Terminology

Front 1

Oropharynx

Back 1

The part of the airway into which the mouth leads. Helps in the swallowing phase.

Front 2

An/o

Back 2

Anus

Front 3

Anastomosis

Back 3

An opening between two separate structures or spaces. This opening is made traumatically, surgically, or pathologically.

Front 4

Append/o

Back 4

Appendix

Front 5

Appendic/o

Back 5

Appendix

Front 6

Ascites

Back 6

Unusual amount of buildup fluid in the abdomen.

Front 7

Bariatric

Back 7

The study, treatment, and prevention of obesity.

Front 8

Bile

Back 8

A yellow orange fluid produced by the liver.

Front 9

Cachexia

Back 9

Weight loss and tissue wasting caused by a serious illness.

Front 10

Chol/e

Back 10

Bile

Front 11

Cholangi/o

Back 11

Bile vessel

Front 12

Cholecyst/o

Back 12

Gallbladder

Front 13

Choledoch/o

Back 13

Common bile duct

Front 14

Col/o

Back 14

Colon (large intestine)

Front 15

Colon/o

Back 15

Colon (large intestine)

Front 16

Common bile duct

Back 16

A tubular structure that allows the passage of excretions and secretions.

Front 17

Cystic Artery

Back 17

A branch at the right of the hepatic artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the gallbladder.

Front 18

Cystic Duct

Back 18

It is connected to the gallbladder and it helps with the transportation of bile to and from the gallbladder.

Front 19

Deciduous

Back 19

Not permanent; eventually falls off.

Front 20

Defecation

Back 20

The discharge of feces from the rectum.

Front 21

Deglutition

Back 21

The process/act of shallowing.

Front 22

Dia-

Back 22

Complete; through

Front 23

Docho-

Back 23

Bladder

Front 24

Duoden/o

Back 24

Duodenum

Front 25

-ectomy

Back 25

Removal; excision

Front 26

Emesis-

Back 26

Vomiting

Front 27

Enter/o

Back 27

Intestine (usually small intestine)

Front 28

Esophag/o

Back 28

Esophagus

Front 29

Excision

Back 29

The act of cutting out.

Front 30

Falciform Ligament (Broad Ligament)

Back 30

A fold of peritoneum that is attached to the lower diaphragm, liver and anterior abdominal wall.

Front 31

Fecalith

Back 31

A hard mass of thick feces.

Front 32

Femoral

Back 32

Pertaining to the femur or thigh.

Front 33

Flatus

Back 33

Gas or air in the GI tract.

Front 34

Gastr/o

Back 34

Stomach

Front 35

Glisson’s Capsule

Back 35

A cartilaginous, fatty, fibrous, or membranous structure enveloping another structure.

Front 36

Hepat/o

Back 36

Liver

Front 37

Hepatic Portal System

Back 37

Responsible for moving blood from the GI tract to the liver.

Front 38

Hiatal Hernia

Back 38

Protrusion of the stomach through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.

Front 39

-iasis

Back 39

Abnormal condition

Front 40

Ile/o

Back 40

Ileum

Front 41

Incision

Back 41

A cut made by a sharp instrument

Front 42

Inguinal

Back 42

Pertaining to the groin.

Front 43

Jejun/o

Back 43

Jejunum

Front 44

Lysis

Back 44

Breakdown; destruction

Front 45

-megaly

Back 45

Enlargement

Front 46

Necrosis

Back 46

Death of cells through injury or disease.

Front 47

-oma

Back 47

Tumor; mass

Front 48

-orexia

Back 48

Appetite

Front 49

-ostomy

Back 49

New opening

Front 50

-otomy

Back 50

Cutting

Front 51

Pancreat/o

Back 51

Pancreas

Front 52

Parietal

Back 52

Pertaining to the wall or cavity of an organ.

Front 53

-pepsia

Back 53

Digestion

Front 54

Peri-

Back 54

Surrounding

Front 55

Peristalsis

Back 55

The movement of the intestine or other tubular structures.

Front 56

Peritoneum

Back 56

A serous membrane that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and folds inward to enclose the viscera.

Front 57

-phagia

Back 57

Swallowing

Front 58

Pharyng/o

Back 58

Throat (pharynx)

Front 59

-prandial

Back 59

Meal

Front 60

Pringle Maneuver

Back 60

Securing the hepatic pedicle with a clamp during resection to decrease blood loss.

Front 61

Proct/o

Back 61

Anus; rectum

Front 62

Pylor/o

Back 62

Pylorus; pyloric sphincter

Front 63

Rect/o

Back 63

Rectum

Front 64

-rrhea

Back 64

Flow; discharge

Front 65

Rule of 5s

Back 65

If the patient has more than five or five support lines the patient needs to be placed in the ICU and is in critical condition.

Hint 65

Five lines (foley, ECMO, NG tube, TD drip, & central line)

Front 66

Sclerosis

Back 66

A thickening or hardening of a body part especially from excessive formation of fibrous tissue.

Front 67

Sial/o

Back 67

Saliva

Front 68

Sigmoid/o

Back 68

Sigmoid Colon

Front 69

-stasis

Back 69

To stop

Front 70

Sub-

Back 70

Under; below

Front 71

Stenosis

Back 71

An unusual contraction an opening or passage

Front 72

Triangle of Calot

Back 72

includes the common hepatic duct, the cystic duct, and the inferior edge of the liver.

Front 73

Ulcer

Back 73

Cutting of the surface of an organ or tissue. Produced by inflamed necrotic tissue.

Front 74

Viscera

Back 74

Soft internal organs of the body especially the organs in the abdominal and thoracic cavity.

Front 75

Visceral

Back 75

Pertaining to the viscera

Front 76

Labia

Back 76

Pertaining to the lips. Used to hold liquids and food inside.

Front 77

Buccal Space

Back 77

Space in the cheek, and is paired on each side. This muscle helps with mastication movements.

Front 78

Teeth

Back 78

Bony structures of the upper and lower jaws. Used for chewing.

Front 79

Mouth

Back 79

Oral cavity. Where the chewing of food takes place.

Front 80

Tongue

Back 80

Muscular organ on the bottom of the mouth. Helps with chewing and swallowing .

Front 81

Soft Palate

Back 81

Structure that separates the mouth from the pharynx. It closes off the cavity of the nose from the mouth during swallowing.

Front 82

Hard palate

Back 82

Bony anterior portion of the palate. Provides structure in the mouth and allows the tongue to move freely.

Front 83

Fauces

Back 83

Area between oral cavity and pharynx. Makes it easier to breathe while chewing.

Front 84

Fauces

Back 84

Area between oral cavity and pharynx. Makes it easier to breathe while chewing.

Front 85

Fauces

Back 85

Area between oral cavity and pharynx. Makes it easier to breathe while chewing.

Front 86

Oropharynx

Back 86

The part of the airway into which the mouth leads. Helps in the swallowing phase.

Front 87

Fauces

Back 87

Area between oral cavity and pharynx. Makes it easier to breathe while chewing.

Front 88

Oropharynx

Back 88

The part of the airway into which the mouth leads. Helps in the swallowing phase.

Front 89

Epiglottis

Back 89

Elastic cartilaginous structure located at the root of the tongue. Prevents (closed) from food and liquids to enter the trachea.

Front 90

Upper Esophageal Sphincter

Back 90

The opening between the posterior pharynx and the proximal esophagus. It’s usually closed but opens to allow the foods and liquids to pass down.

Front 91

Esophagus

Back 91

The muscular tube by which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach by muscular waves (contractions).

Front 92

Lower Esophageal Sphincter

Back 92

Smooth muscle fibers at the beginning of the esophagus and stomach. Allows food to enter the stomach and prevent reflux of the contents.

Front 93

Stomach

Back 93

Saclike organ and is one of the principal organs of the digestion system. It’s helps with temporary storage for food, mixing and breakdown of food, and digestion of food.

Front 94

Pyloric Sphincter

Back 94

Smooth muscle fibers around the opening of the stomach. Allow the food contents to enter the duodenum.

Front 95

Small Intestine

Back 95

The narrow upper part of the intestine. Digestion is completed her and nutrients are absorbed by the blood.

Front 96

Duodenum

Back 96

The beginning portion of the small intestine, starting at the lower end of the stomach. It takes juices from the pancreas and liver to help with the digestion process.

Front 97

Jejunum

Back 97

Structure between the duodenum and leads to the ileum. Absorb sugars, amino acids, fatty acids and remaining nutrients that were not absorbed in the duodenum.

Front 98

Ileum

Back 98

The end portion of the small intestine extending from the jejunum to the large intestine. Absorbs remaining nutrients vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Front 99

Ileocecal Valve

Back 99

Its function is to allow digested materials to pass from the small intestine into your large intestine.

Front 100

Cecum

Back 100

The large pouch at the beginning of the large intestine. Absorbs fluids and salts that remain and mixes the contents with a lubricating mucus.

Front 101

Large intestine

Back 101

Lower part of the gut, includes the caecum, appendix, colon and rectum. Absorb water and salts from the non digested material and get rid of any waste.

Front 102

Ascending Colon

Back 102

Absorb the remaining water and nutrients from the indigestible material, solidifying it to form stool.

Front 103

Hepatic Flexure

Back 103

The bend of the colon under the liver.

Front 104

Transverse Colon

Back 104

The part of the colon between the right and left colic flexures. Absorbs water and salts.

Front 105

Splenic Flexure

Back 105

The bend between the transverse and descending colon.

Front 106

Descending Colon

Back 106

Stores feces that will be emptied into the rectum.

Front 107

Sigmoid Colon

Back 107

Muscle contracts to increase the pressure inside the colon, causing the stool to move into the rectum.

Front 108

Rectum

Back 108

Holds the feces awaiting elimination by defecation.

Front 109

Internal Anal Sphincter

Back 109

A muscular ring surrounding the lower end of the rectum. Ensures that the anal canal is closed at rest.

Front 110

Anal

Back 110

Pertaining to the anus. Prevents stool from coming out when it’s not supposed to.

Front 111

External Anal Sphincter

Back 111

Provides voluntary control for defecation.