Isthmus – separates the thyroid into 2 lobes

Thyroxin – hormone that controls metabolism and regulates growth and is produced by the thyroid

Thyrocalcitonin – thyroid hormone that regulates calcium in the blood

Metabolism – rate eat which food is converted to energy

Hypothyroidism – a glandular disorder resulting from insufficient production of thyroid hormones. Symtoms are weight gain, goiter, lack of energy (Most common cause is Hashimoto’s Disease)

Hyperthyroidism – pathologically excessive production of thyroid hormones.  Causes tachycardia.

Iodine 131 -  A radioisotope of iodine that emits beta and gamma rays, has a half-life of 8.05 days, and is used as a tracer in thyroid studies and as therapy in hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer.

Cold Nodules – nodules that are nonfunctioning

Hot Nodules – nodules that are over functioning

CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) - A glycoprotein present in fetal gastrointestinal tissue and in the cells or serum of adults having certain types of cancers. It is used clinically to monitor the effectiveness of a treatment, as for colorectal cancer and is often elevated in medullary types of thyroid cancer

RET proto-oncogene – genetic mutation that is found in patients with the Medullary type of  thyroid cancer

Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas – are Papillar and Mixed Papillary Follicular Types

Ingestion – taking in of food

Propulsuion – esophagus moves food along the tract by peristalsis

Alimentary canal - The mucous membrane-lined tube of the digestive system through which food passes, in which digestion takes place, and from which wastes are eliminated. It extends from the mouth to the anus and includes the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Also called digestive tract

Peristalsis - The wavelike muscular contractions of the alimentary canal or other tubular structures by which contents are forced onward toward the opening.

Digestion - The process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed and assimilated by the body. It is accomplished in the alimentary canal by the mechanical and enzymatic breakdown of foods into simpler chemical compounds.

Abosrption – small intestine is the main site of absorption (large bowel is the main site of water absorption)

Polyps - A usually nonmalignant growth or tumor protruding from the mucous lining of an organ such as the nose, bladder, or intestine, often causing obstruction.

Esophagus - The muscular membranous tube for the passage of food from the pharynx to the stomach; the gullet.  It extends from C6 – T12 (cricopharyngeal muscle to the cardiac sphincter).

Cardiac Sphincter - A ring of smooth muscle fibers at the junction of the esophagus and stomach.

Barretts Esophagus - metaplasia of the lower esophagus that is characterized by replacement of squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium, occurs especially as a result of chronic gastroesophageal reflux, and is associated with an increased risk for esophageal carcinoma.

Plummer-Vinson Syndrome - Difficulty in swallowing caused by degeneration of the muscle of the esophagus, atrophy of the papillae of the tongue, and hypochromic anemia. (esophageal webs form) (can be a precursor to cancer of the esophagus)

Achalasia – disorder where the lower 2/3rds of the esophagus has lost its peristaltic ability. (can be a precursor to cancer of the esophagus)

Hiatal hernia - hernia in which part of the stomach protrudes through the esophageal opening of the diaphragm (can be a precursor to cancer of the esophagus)

Candida esophagus - Candidal esophagitis is a fungal or yeast infection of the esophagus

Esophageal Varices - Longitudinal, superficial venous varices at the lower end of the esophagus that are prone to ulceration and massive bleeding.

Tilosis – highly keratinized lining of the esophagus (can be a precursor to cancer of the esophagus)

Dysphagia – difficulty swallowing

Odynophagia – painful swallowing

5FU – most common chemo drug for cancers of the GI

fistula - An abnormal duct or passage resulting from injury, disease, or a congenital disorder that connects an abscess, cavity, or hollow organ to the body surface or to another hollow organ.

Stenosis - A constriction or narrowing of a duct or passage; a stricture.

Retroperitoneal - Situated behind the peritoneum.

Jaundice - Yellowish discoloration of the whites of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes caused by deposition of bile salts in these tissues. It occurs as a symptom of various diseases, such as hepatitis, that affect the processing of bile.

Adjuvant – treatment given to increase or aid its effect

Fundus - The portion of a hollow organ opposite or farthest from its opening.

NSAID’s - A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Pyloric stenosis -  Narrowing of the gastric pylorus, especially by congenital muscular hypertrophy or by scarring resulting from a peptic ulcer.

Gastritis – inflammation of the stomach

Gastric erosions – occur from partial irradiation of the stomach

Mucin - Any of a group of glycoproteins found especially in the secretions of mucous membranes that line the stomach

Pernicious anemia - A severe anemia most often affecting older adults, caused by failure of the stomach to absorb vitamin B12 and characterized by abnormally large red blood cells, gastrointestinal disturbances, and lesions of the spinal cord.

Metaplasia -   Transformation of cells from a normal to an abnormal state

Ascites -  An abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity.

Omentum -  One of the folds of the peritoneum that connect the stomach with other abdominal organs.

MALToma – Mucin Associated Lymphoid Tissue

IORT – intra operative radiation therapy

Endocrine - Secreting internally

Exocrine – Secreting externally, directly or through a duct

Insulin -  A polypeptide hormone secreted by the islets of Langerhans and functioning in the regulation of the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, especially the conversion of glucose to glycogen, which lowers the blood glucose level

Diabetes - Relative or absolute lack of insulin leading to uncontrolled carbohydrate metabolism. In juvenile onset diabetes (that may be an autoimmune response to pancreatic _ cells) the insulin deficiency tends to be almost total, whereas in adult onset diabetes there seems to be no immunological component but an association with obesity.

Biliary - Of or relating to bile, the bile ducts, or the gallbladder.

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

Pancreaticoduodenectomy - partial or complete excision of the pancreas and the duodenum called also pancreatoduodenectomy

Whipple Procedure - resects part of the pancreas, al of the duodenum, part of the jejunum and the distal stomach.

Falciform ligament -  separates the 2 lobes of the liver

Bile -  A bitter, alkaline, brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow fluid that is secreted by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and discharged into the duodenum and aids in the emulsification, digestion, and absorption of fats.

Kuppfer Cells - Macrophages lining the walls of the hepatic sinusoids.  They remove devris in the liver.

Sphincter of oddi – regulates the flow of bile back to the liver from the gallbladder

Cholecystectomy – surgical removal of the gallbladder

Cholecystitis – chronic inflammation of the gallbladder

Cholelithiasis – gallstones (are formed from calcium deposits called calcani)

Cirrhosis - A chronic disease of the liver characterized by the replacement of normal tissue with fibrous tissue and the loss of functional liver cells. It can result from alcohol abuse, nutritional deprivation, or infection especially by the hepatitis virus.

Hepatitis – inflammation of the liver, caused by infectious or toxic agents and characterized by jaundice, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain

HCC (hepatic cell carcinoma) – most common type of liver cancer; occurs in people who have a history of hepatitis or cirrhosis (more common in males 3:1)

Portahepatis – area around the portal vein and the hepatic artery

Stereotactic - positioning in three dimensional space. Refers to surgery or radiation therapy directed by various scanning devices.  Pinpoint surgery.

Mesentary -  Any of several folds of the peritoneum that connect the intestines to the dorsal abdominal wall, especially such a fold that envelops the jejunum and ileum.

Lumen -  The inner open space or cavity of a tubular organ, as of a blood vessel or an intestine.

Crohn’s Disease -  A chronic medical condition characterized by inflammation of the bowel. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss. The cause of Crohn's disease is not yet known, but genetic, dietary and infectious factors may play a part. (is not a precursor to cancer)

Ulcerative colitis – a disease that causes irritation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine and rectum (patients have a 10X risk of developing colon cancer)

Polyps -  A usually nonmalignant growth or tumor protruding from the mucous lining of an organ such as the nose, bladder, or intestine, often causing obstruction. (greatly increased risk of developing colon cancer)

Familial Polyposis (FAP) : Familial polyposis is an inherited condition which primarily affects the large intestine (colon and rectum). Large numbers of projecting masses of swollen and thickened or tumorous membrane (polyps) develop on the inner lining of this part of the bowel. The polyps eventually become malignant. (Patients are at risk of developing colon cancer)

Broder’s Index – historical index of malignancy based on the fact that the more undifferentiated or embryonic the cells of a tumor are the more malignant a tumor will be.

Duke’s Classification – staging system that classifies colorectal carcinoma from A to C based on extent of tumor (historical)

Clinical Staging - Staging that is performed by the use of non-invasive diagnostic tests

Pathological Staging – staging that is done invasively after and during surgery

Dentate line -  The line between the simple columnar epithelium of the rectum and the stratified epithelium of the anal canal

Anal Verge - The distal end of the anal canal, forming a transitional zone between the skin of the anal canal and the perianal skin