Here are examples of common medical terms related to the digestive system that can be easily defined by breaking the terms into their word components.
Gastrointestinal
- Break down the medical term into word components: Gastro/intestin/al
- Label the word components: Gastro= WR; Intestin – WR; al = S
- Define the word components: Gastro= stomach; intestin = intestines; al = pertaining to
- Create a final definition of the medical term: Pertaining to the stomach and intestines
Dysphagia
- Break down the medical term into word components: Dys/phagia
- Label the word components: Dys = P; phagia = S
- Define the word components: Dys = difficult, abnormal, or painful; phagia = swallowing or eating
- Create a final definition of the medical term: Difficulty swallowing
Gastritis
- Break down the medical term into word components: Gastr/itis
- Label the word components: Gastr = WR; itis = S
- Define the word components: Gastr = stomach; itis = inflammation
- Create a final definition of the medical term: Inflammation of the stomach
Hepatomegaly
- Break down the medical term into word components: Hepat/o/megaly
- Label the word components: Hepat = WR; o = CV; megaly = S
- Define the word components: Hepat = liver; megaly = enlarged
- Create a final definition of the medical term: Enlarged liver
Interactive Learning Activity: Practice defining and pronouncing digestive system medical terms by breaking them down into word parts.
You can also print these flashcard activities as a Chapter 12 Student Companion Worksheet and check your answers with this Answer Key.