Digestive System Medical Terminology Quiz - Start Now!
Think you know digestion medical terminology and gastrointestinal suffixes? Dive in!
This Digestive System Medical Terminology quiz helps you practice core GI terms and meanings, from peristalsis to tests for choledocholithiasis. Use it to spot gaps before an exam. Want more? Try this short practice or review Chapter 8 terms .
Study Outcomes
- Identify Key Digestive System Terms -
Recognize and recall essential medical terminology of the digestive system, including common gastrointestinal suffixes and prefixes used in clinical contexts.
- Define Peristalsis Mechanism -
Explain the concept of the muscular wave-like movement to transport food through the digestive system, often referred to as peristalsis, and its role in digestion.
- Differentiate Diagnostic Tests -
Distinguish among various diagnostic procedures and determine which test would demonstrate choledocholithiasis, enhancing your understanding of imaging and laboratory evaluations.
- Apply Digestion Medical Terminology -
Use digestion medical terminology accurately in case scenarios and quiz questions to reinforce proper clinical communication and reporting.
- Assess Terminology Proficiency -
Evaluate your mastery of medical terminology of the digestive system through scored quiz feedback, identifying areas for further study or review.
Cheat Sheet
- GI Suffix Mastery -
In medical terminology of digestive system, common suffixes include -itis (inflammation), -ectomy (surgical removal), -osis (abnormal condition), and -scopy (visual examination). Use the mnemonic "I Eat Oranges Swiftly" to recall Inflammation, Excision, Obstruction, Scope. Recognizing these endings accelerates learning of new terms and helps decode clinical diagnoses.
- Peristalsis Explained -
Peristalsis refers to the muscular wave-like movement that transports food through the digestive tract - peristalsis combines "peri-" (around) with "-stalsis" (contraction). In digestion medical terminology, understanding this term clarifies how the esophagus clears a bolus into the stomach. Remember: "push and squeeze" is the simple way to recall peristaltic action.
- Choledocholithiasis Testing -
To determine which test would demonstrate choledocholithiasis, clinicians often prefer MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) for noninvasive bile-duct imaging, while ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) offers both diagnosis and stone removal. Abdominal ultrasound can serve as a first-line screen but may miss small duct stones. Knowing these protocols ensures accurate interpretation of imaging requests in clinical practice.
- Key Digestive Roots -
Root words like gastro- (stomach), entero- (intestine), hepato- (liver), chol(e)- (bile), and pancreato- (pancreas) form the basis of digestive system terminology. Pair each root with appropriate suffixes to construct terms such as gastrectomy or enteritis. Flashcards that mix roots and suffixes enhance retention of complex medical vocabulary.
- Enzyme Nomenclature -
Most digestive enzymes end in ‑ase, indicating their catalytic role - examples include amylase (carbohydrate digestion), lipase (fat breakdown), and pepsinogen (activated to pepsin for protein digestion). Linking the ‑ase suffix to "always starts as an enzyme" helps cement this naming rule. Reviewing enzyme functions alongside their names deepens comprehension of digestive physiology.