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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Diseases & Conditions

Master Digestive System Terminology: From Volvulus to Jejunum

Challenge your knowledge of common bile duct combining form and jejunum terms - dive in!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for digestive system quiz on golden yellow background

Use this quiz to practice the term for twisting of part of the intestine upon itself and other digestive system vocabulary. Check your weak spots before an exam as you recall bile duct and jejunum combining forms, plus more fast facts. When you finish, review digestive medical terms or get more practice questions .

What is the medical term for twisting of part of the intestine upon itself?
Intussusception
Volvulus
Peristalsis
Hernia
Volvulus is defined as the twisting of a loop of intestine around its mesenteric attachment, which can lead to obstruction and ischemia. Intussusception refers to telescoping of one bowel segment into another, while hernias and peristalsis are different processes. Early recognition of volvulus is crucial to prevent strangulation of the bowel.
Which combining form refers to the small intestine?
duodeno-
entero-
gastro-
colo-
The combining form entero- denotes the small intestine in medical terminology. Gastro- refers to the stomach, duodeno- to the duodenum specifically, and colo- to the colon. Knowing these forms helps in interpreting diagnostic and procedural terms.
Which combining form refers to the colon?
colo-
ceco-
colpo-
duodeno-
Colo- is the combining form that means colon. Ceco- refers to the cecum, colpo- to the vagina, and duodeno- to the duodenum. Recognizing these prefixes is essential for understanding gastrointestinal terminology.
Which site in the gastrointestinal tract is most commonly affected by volvulus in adults?
Jejunum
Sigmoid colon
Duodenum
Esophagus
Sigmoid volvulus is the most common form of adult intestinal volvulus in many parts of the world. It involves twisting of the sigmoid colon around its mesentery, leading to obstruction. Jejunal and duodenal volvuli are much rarer, and the esophagus is not a typical site.
Which symptom is most characteristic of an acute volvulus?
Rash
Cough
Headache
Severe abdominal pain
Patients with acute volvulus typically present with sudden, severe abdominal pain due to obstruction and compromised blood flow. Cough, headache, and rash are not primary features of volvulus. Prompt recognition of pain and obstruction signs is critical for treatment.
Which radiographic sign is classically associated with sigmoid volvulus on barium enema?
String sign
Apple core sign
Corkscrew sign
Bird's beak sign
The corkscrew sign refers to the twisted appearance of the sigmoid colon in a volvulus on contrast studies. The bird's beak sign is seen in achalasia, the apple core sign in colon cancer, and the string sign in Crohn's disease of the terminal ileum.
True or False: Volvulus can lead to bowel obstruction.
True
False
Volvulus causes twisting of the intestine which obstructs the lumen and can compromise blood flow. This obstruction can rapidly progress to ischemia and necrosis if not treated. Early diagnosis and management are essential to prevent serious complications.
Which feature best distinguishes volvulus from intussusception?
Twisting of bowel vs telescoping of one segment into another
Inflammation vs infection
Ulceration vs perforation
Ischemia vs hemorrhage
Volvulus involves twisting of the bowel around its mesentery, whereas intussusception is the invagination of one bowel segment into an adjacent one. Both can cause obstruction, but their mechanisms differ. Accurate imaging helps distinguish these conditions.
Which imaging modality is most sensitive for diagnosing volvulus?
Ultrasound
MRI
Plain abdominal X-ray
CT scan
CT scanning is highly sensitive and specific for diagnosing volvulus, showing the whirl sign of twisted mesenteric vessels. Plain films may suggest obstruction but are less definitive. Ultrasound and MRI are less commonly used in the acute setting.
Which laboratory finding may suggest intestinal ischemia in a patient with volvulus?
Elevated hemoglobin
Elevated lactate
Decreased creatinine
Low blood glucose
Elevated serum lactate is an indicator of tissue hypoxia and ischemia, which can occur in volvulus due to compromised mesenteric blood flow. Low glucose, decreased creatinine, and elevated hemoglobin are not specific for ischemia. Early detection of lactate elevation guides urgent intervention.
What is the term for the manual untwisting of a volvulized bowel segment during surgery?
Anastomosis
Resection
Detorsion
Colostomy
Detorsion refers to the surgical reversal of the twist in volvulus to restore blood flow and relieve obstruction. Resection is removal of nonviable bowel, colostomy is diversion, and anastomosis is reconnection of bowel ends. Detorsion is the first step if the bowel is still viable.
Which suffix indicates surgical fixation of an organ?
-pexy
-otomy
-ectomy
-plasty
The suffix -pexy means surgical fixation of an organ to a body wall or another structure. -plasty is surgical repair, -otomy is cutting into, and -ectomy is removal. Gastropexy or colopexy may be used to prevent recurrence of volvulus.
Twisting of the intestine can compromise blood flow leading to which complication?
Strangulation
Diverticulosis
Ulceration
Diarrhea
Strangulation refers to vascular compromise and ischemia caused by twisting of the bowel in volvulus. This can rapidly lead to necrosis if not urgently managed. Diarrhea, ulceration, and diverticulosis are unrelated or secondary phenomena.
The term coloptosis means:
Twisting of the colon
Removal of the colon
Sagging or prolapse of the colon
Inflammation of the colon
Coloptosis combines colo- (colon) and -ptosis (prolapse, sagging), indicating a downward displacement of the colon. Inflammation would be colitis, twisting is volvulus, and removal is colectomy. Understanding these terms aids clinical communication.
A midgut volvulus in infants is most commonly associated with which congenital anomaly?
Meckel's diverticulum
Intestinal atresia
Hirschsprung disease
Malrotation of the gut
Midgut volvulus in neonates and infants is typically due to malrotation of the intestines, where abnormal fixation leads to twisting. Hirschsprung disease, Meckel's diverticulum, and atresias cause different obstruction patterns. Prompt diagnosis of malrotation prevents serious ischemic injury.
In which age group is midgut volvulus due to malrotation most likely to present?
Adults
Adolescents
Neonates
Elderly
Malrotation with midgut volvulus commonly presents in the neonatal period, often within the first month of life. Presentation in older children or adults is rare and typically milder. Early surgical correction is critical in neonates.
Ladd's bands are fibrous attachments associated with which condition?
Ulcerative colitis
Peptic ulcer disease
Intestinal malrotation causing volvulus
Colonic diverticulosis
Ladd's bands are peritoneal fibrous bands that cause duodenal obstruction in malrotation and predispose to midgut volvulus. They are not related to diverticulosis, peptic ulcers, or colitis. The Ladd's procedure divides these bands.
Which major artery is most at risk of compromise in a midgut volvulus?
Celiac trunk
Superior mesenteric artery
Renal artery
Inferior mesenteric artery
A midgut volvulus twists the small bowel around the superior mesenteric artery, risking acute arterial occlusion and bowel infarction. The inferior mesenteric artery supplies the distal colon, the celiac trunk the foregut, and the renal arteries the kidneys.
Which anatomical fixation is addressed during a Ladd's procedure to prevent recurrent volvulus?
Shortening the small bowel mesentery
Widening the mesenteric base by repositioning the bowel
Attaching the colon to the anterior abdominal wall
Fixing the duodenum to the posterior wall
The Ladd's procedure widens the small bowel mesentery by arranging the small intestine on the right and the colon on the left, reducing the risk of twisting. It also divides Ladd's bands. Fixation of the duodenum alone or colon to the wall is not the primary goal.
In sigmoid volvulus, the colon twists around which structure?
Mesenteric axis
Longitudinal muscle layer
Submucosal plexus
Circular muscle layer
Sigmoid volvulus results from twisting of the sigmoid colon around its mesenteric axis or vascular pedicle. The muscle layers and plexuses are not the pivot point for the twist. This mesenteric torsion causes acute obstruction.
What does the 'whirl sign' on CT indicate in the context of volvulus?
Air - fluid levels in the bowel
Twisting of the mesenteric vessels
Free intra-abdominal air
Bowel wall thickening
The whirl sign reflects swirling of the mesenteric fat and vessels due to torsion in volvulus. Air-fluid levels suggest obstruction but not the specific twist. Bowel wall thickening and free air indicate ischemia or perforation but are not the whirl sign.
Primary volvulus differs from secondary volvulus in that primary occurs:
On normally fixed bowel without predisposing lesions
After intra-abdominal infection
From intraluminal tumors
Due to postoperative adhesions
Primary (idiopathic) volvulus arises without anatomic abnormalities or secondary causes, often in well-nourished individuals with redundant colon. Secondary volvulus occurs due to adhesions, tumors, strictures, or malrotation. Differentiating the types guides preventive strategies.
Which imaging phenomenon on barium enema is most specific for chronic intermittent sigmoid volvulus?
Apple core constriction
String sign of Kantor
Twisted tapering of contrast with gradual corkscrew contour
Stomach bubble sign
Chronic intermittent volvulus may show a corkscrew or twisted tapering of contrast in the sigmoid colon during barium studies. The apple core sign suggests malignancy, the string sign is seen in Crohn's disease, and the stomach bubble sign is unrelated. Recognizing this helps plan elective surgery.
Which histopathological finding is most characteristic of advanced bowel ischemia in volvulus?
Fibrous strictures
Lymphoid hyperplasia
Granulomatous inflammation
Hemorrhagic infarction with mucosal sloughing
Hemorrhagic infarction with mucosal and submucosal necrosis is a hallmark of severe ischemia from strangulation in volvulus. Granulomas occur in Crohn's disease, fibrous strictures in chronic injury, and lymphoid hyperplasia in reactive conditions. Timely resection of infarcted bowel is needed.
In adult sigmoid volvulus, which endoscopic maneuver can both diagnose and sometimes treat the condition?
Colonoscopy with biopsy
Flexible sigmoidoscopic detorsion
Upper GI endoscopy
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Flexible sigmoidoscopy can untwist a sigmoid volvulus by carefully advancing the scope and decompressing the bowel, which serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Upper GI endoscopy examines the stomach, colonoscopy with biopsy is for mucosal sampling, and ERCP is for biliary/pancreatic ducts.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Volvulus -

    Understand and define the term twisting of part of the intestine upon itself (volvulus) and recognize its clinical significance.

  2. Recall Jejunum Combining Form -

    Memorize and apply the combining form for the jejunum to interpret and construct medical terms correctly.

  3. Recall Common Bile Duct Combining Form -

    Recognize the combining form for the common bile duct to decode terminology in hepatobiliary contexts.

  4. Apply Crossword Strategies -

    Use chapter 6 digestive system crossword answers to reinforce key terms and improve your puzzle-solving efficiency.

  5. Interpret Medical Terminology -

    Analyze and differentiate digestive system terms to enhance comprehension in clinical and academic settings.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Recognizing Volvulus (Twisting of Part of the Intestine Upon Itself) -

    Volvulus, defined as the twisting of part of the intestine upon itself, causes acute obstruction and compromised blood flow (American College of Gastroenterology). Imaging modalities like a barium enema often reveal the classic "bird's beak" sign at the twist. A quick mnemonic - "twist and shout" - helps you remember the urgency of volvulus.

  2. Combining Form for Jejunum: Jejun/o -

    The combining form for the jejunum is jejun/o, seen in terms such as jejunostomy (surgical opening of the jejunum). A catchy mnemonic - "Jeju-no hunger" - reinforces its primary role in nutrient absorption. This root appears frequently in chapter 6 digestive system crossword answers, so familiarizing yourself with jejun/o boosts your crossword speed.

  3. Common Bile Duct Combining Form: Choledoch/o -

    Choledoch/o refers to the common bile duct, used in conditions like choledocholithiasis (stones in the duct), as detailed by Johns Hopkins Medicine. Think "choledo-choo" to visualize bile traveling through the duct like a train. Recognizing this root is key to decoding complex biliary terminology.

  4. Key Chapter 6 Digestive System Crossword Answers -

    Essential answers often include duodenum (first segment), jejunum (middle), ileum (last), and gastroenterology (study of stomach and intestines). Cross-referencing medical dictionaries like Dorland's can ensure accuracy and deepen your understanding. Integrating these answers strengthens both your term recall and your medical language proficiency.

  5. Mnemonic for Intestinal Segment Order -

    Use "Do Just Ingest" to remember Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum in sequence from small bowel origin to end. This simple phrase from the Mayo Clinic's study tips enhances retention of segment names and their combining forms. Effective mnemonics like this one make complex anatomy stick in your memory.

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