Exam 3 Review:  Chapter 23:  Clinical Terms I

periodontal disease - Any inflammatory disease which attacks the gingiva (gums) and the alveolar bone, especially around the tooth sockets (alveoli); it is usually caused by bacteria growing at the base of the teeth; mild inflammation is termed gingivitis while more severe disease with alveolar bone loss, loosening of teeth and pronounced inflammation inflammation is termed periodontitis; it is more often a disease of adults after the period of greatest risk for tooth decay which is during the first two decades of life.

root canal -

1. A pulp-filled channel within the dentine of a tooth which is the passage in the root of a tooth through which its nerve and blood vessels enter the pulp cavity.
2. A dental treatment (within the dental specialty endodontics) in which diseased tissue from this part of the tooth is removed and the resulting cavity is filled with an inert material.

orthodontics - The dental specialty and practice of preventing and correcting irregularities of the teeth, e.g., by the use of removable appliances or fixed adjustable braces.

mumps - An acute, inflammatory, contagious disease caused by a paramyxovirus and characterized by swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotids, and sometimes of the pancreas, ovaries, or testes; this disease, mainly affecting children, can be prevented by vaccination (MMR).  Mumps can affect one or both sides of the body.  See illustrations, including a Picasso, below.

gastroenterology - The branch of medicine dealing with the study, diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the stomach, intestines, and accessory organs (liver, gall bladder, pancreas).

proctology - The branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the colon, rectum, and anus.

esophageal hiatus - The snug opening in the mid-dorsal edge of the diaphragm which is the passage for the esophagus as it passes from the thoracic to the abdominal cavity.

hiatal hernia - A protrusion in which an anatomical part (e.g., the stomach) protrudes through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.

achalasia - The failure of a ring of smooth muscle fibers, e.g., the lower esophageal = cardiac sphincter of the esophagus, to relax; symptoms include difficulty in swallowing, chest pain, vomiting and heart burn; treatments include surgical dilation and various medications.

heartburn - Indigestion and a hot, fiery sensation, usually centered in the middle of the chest near the sternum, caused by the reflux of acidic stomach fluids which enter, and can potentially erode, the lower end of the esophagus; often associated with nausea and vomiting.  aka - acid reflux, cardialgia, pyrosis

vomiting - The act or an instance of ejecting part or all of the contents of the stomach through the mouth, usually in a series of involuntary spasmic  movements; regulated by the vomiting center in the medulla oblongata.  aka - regurgitation, emesis

ascites - An abnormal accumulation of serous, peritoneal fluid in the abdominal cavity, usually caused by liver disease (~80% of cases) and exhibiting reduced synthesis of albumin and other oncotic plasma proteins (proteins which contribute to the osmotic = oncotic pressure of the blood), and less often caused by heart or kidney diseases or pancreatitis.

Cirrhosis of the liver is a common cause of ascites in liver disease patients, often suffering from chronic alcoholism.

peritonitis - Any inflammation of the peritoneum and abdominal cavity; the peritoneal fluid may become mixed with serum, fibrin, inflammatory cells, microorganisms and pus; symptoms include abdominal pain, tenderness, constipation, vomiting and moderate fever.  aka - acute abdomen

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