Digestive system

Symptoms (21)

Abdominal Pain — Dolor abdominal

Abdominal pain is discomfort or aching anywhere between the chest and the groin, often called a stomachache or belly pain.

Acid Reflux (GERD) — Reflujo ácido

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back up into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation of sour liquid, chest discomfort, hoarseness, chronic cough, or a sensation of a lump in the throat.

Belching (Burping) — Eructos

Belching, also called burping, is the release of gas from the stomach or esophagus through the mouth, typically accompanied by a sound.

Bloating — Hinchazón abdominal

Bloating is the uncomfortable feeling that your abdomen is full, tight, or swollen.

Blood in Stool — Sangre en las heces

Blood in the stool can appear as bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowl, or as dark red blood mixed into the stool.

Change in Bowel Habits — Cambio en los hábitos intestinales

A change in bowel habits refers to any noticeable and persistent difference from your normal pattern of bowel movements.

Constipation — Estreñimiento

Constipation means having fewer than three bowel movements per week, or having stools that are hard, dry, lumpy, and difficult or painful to pass.

Diarrhea — Diarrea

Diarrhea means having loose, watery bowel movements three or more times in a single day.

Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing) — Disfagia

Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing food, liquids, or even saliva.

Early Satiety — Saciedad precoz

Early satiety means feeling full after eating only a small amount of food — much sooner than you would expect.

Excessive Gas (Flatulence) — Gases excesivos

Passing gas is a normal part of digestion; most people pass gas 13 to 21 times per day.

Flank Pain — Dolor en el flanco

Flank pain is discomfort felt on one or both sides of the body, between the lower ribs and the hip.

Heartburn — Acidez estomacal

Heartburn is a burning discomfort in the chest, usually felt behind the breastbone, that often rises toward the throat.

Hiccups — Hipo

Hiccups are caused by involuntary contractions of the diaphragm followed by a sudden closure of the vocal cords, producing the characteristic sound.

Involuntary Movements — Movimientos involuntarios

Involuntary movements are motions the body makes without conscious control.

Irritability — Irritabilidad

Irritability is a state of being easily annoyed, frustrated, or angered by things that would not normally bother you.

Jaundice — Ictericia

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by a buildup of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced when red blood cells break down.

Muscle Spasm — Espasmo muscular

A muscle spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of one or more muscles that can cause intense, localized pain.

Nausea — Náuseas

Nausea is the unpleasant sensation of feeling like you might vomit.

Rectal Bleeding — Sangrado rectal

Rectal bleeding refers to blood that exits the body through the rectum.

Vomiting — Vómitos

Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the stomach's contents through the mouth.

Conditions (17)

Appendicitis — Apendicitis

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower right abdomen.

Celiac Disease — Enfermedad celíaca

Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine's lining.

Cirrhosis — Cirrosis hepática

Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver disease and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism.

Colon Cancer — Cáncer de colon

Colon cancer is a malignant tumor of the large intestine (colon).

Crohn's Disease — Enfermedad de Crohn

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition.

Diverticulitis — Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches called diverticula that have formed in the walls of the colon become inflamed or infected.

Diverticulosis — Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is a condition in which small pouches (diverticula) form in the walls of the colon, usually in the lower left section.

Fatty Liver Disease — Enfermedad de hígado graso

Fatty liver disease occurs when too much fat builds up in the liver cells.

Gallstones — Cálculos biliares

Gallstones are hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, a small organ beneath the liver that stores bile.

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) — ERGE (Enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico)

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a chronic digestive condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus, irritating its lining.

Hepatitis B — Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus transmitted through blood, sexual contact, or from mother to baby during birth.

Hepatitis C — Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus spread primarily through contact with infected blood, often through sharing needles or syringes.

Hernia — Hernia

A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — Síndrome del intestino irritable (SII)

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common chronic condition affecting the large intestine, causing abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or alternating between the two.

Pancreatitis — Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin.

Peptic Ulcer — Úlcera péptica

A peptic ulcer is an open sore that develops on the inner lining of the stomach, upper small intestine, or esophagus.

Ulcerative Colitis — Colitis ulcerosa

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum.

Anatomy (17)

Appendix — Apéndice

The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch about three to four inches long that hangs off the lower right side of the large intestine where the cecum begins.

Bile Duct — Conducto biliar

The bile duct is a small tube that carries bile — a digestive fluid that helps break down fats — from the liver and gallbladder into the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum.

Celiac Artery — Arteria celíaca

The celiac artery, also called the celiac trunk, is a short but important blood vessel that branches off the aorta just below the diaphragm in the upper abdomen.

Colon — Colon

The colon, also called the large intestine, is the final part of the digestive tract before waste leaves the body.

Duodenum — Duodeno

The duodenum is the first and shortest section of the small intestine, connecting directly to the stomach.

Esophagus — Esófago

The esophagus is the muscular tube, about ten inches long, that connects your mouth and throat to your stomach.

Gallbladder — Vesícula biliar

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ about four inches long that sits beneath the liver in the upper right abdomen.

Ileum — Íleon

The ileum is the third and final section of the small intestine, following the duodenum and jejunum.

Jejunum — Yeyuno

The jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine, located between the duodenum — which connects to the stomach — and the ileum — which connects to the large intestine.

Liver — Hígado

The liver is the largest internal organ, weighing about three pounds and sitting in the upper right part of the abdomen under the rib cage.

Pancreas — Páncreas

The pancreas is a long, flat gland about six inches long that sits deep in the abdomen behind the stomach.

Peritoneum — Peritoneo

The peritoneum is a thin, smooth membrane that lines the inside of the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal organs, including the stomach, intestines, liver, and spleen.

Portal Vein — Vena porta

The portal vein is a large blood vessel that carries nutrient-rich blood from the digestive organs — including the stomach, intestines, spleen, and pancreas — to the liver.

Rectum — Recto

The rectum is the final five to six inches of the large intestine, connecting the sigmoid colon to the anal canal.

Sigmoid Colon — Colon sigmoide

The sigmoid colon is the S-shaped final section of the large intestine before it connects to the rectum.

Small Intestine — Intestino delgado

The small intestine is a long, coiled tube — about twenty feet in adults — that fills most of the middle of the abdomen.

Stomach — Estómago

The stomach is a muscular, J-shaped organ in the upper left part of the abdomen that receives food from the esophagus and begins the process of digestion.

Procedures (6)

Appendectomy — Apendicectomía

An appendectomy is surgical removal of the appendix, a small pouch attached to the large intestine.

Cholecystectomy — Colecistectomía

A cholecystectomy is surgical removal of the gallbladder, a small organ beneath the liver that stores bile.

Colostomy — Colostomía

A colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the abdominal wall (called a stoma) through which a portion of the colon is brought out.

Gastric Bypass — Bypass gástrico

Gastric bypass is a bariatric surgery that creates a small pouch from the stomach and connects it directly to the small intestine, bypassing most of the stomach and the upper small intestine.

Hernia Repair — Reparación de hernia

Hernia repair is surgery to fix a hernia, which occurs when an organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue.

IV Fluids — Líquidos intravenosos

Intravenous (IV) fluids are liquids delivered directly into a vein through a small needle or catheter to restore hydration, correct electrolyte imbalances, deliver medications, or provide nutrition when oral intake is not possible.

Medications (4)

Antiemetic — Antiemético

Antiemetics are medications that prevent or treat nausea and vomiting.

Immunosuppressant — Inmunosupresor

Immunosuppressants are medications that reduce the activity of the immune system.

Laxative — Laxante

Laxatives are medications used to relieve constipation by promoting bowel movements.

Maintenance Medication — Medicamento de mantenimiento

A maintenance medication is a drug you take on a regular, ongoing basis to manage a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol, or depression.

Tests (2)

Colonoscopy — Colonoscopía

A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor uses a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera to examine the inside of your entire large intestine.

Fluoroscopy — Fluoroscopía

Fluoroscopy is a real-time X-ray technique that produces continuous moving images of the inside of your body, similar to an X-ray movie.

Emergency care (1)

Hospital Discharge Instructions — Instrucciones de alta hospitalaria

Hospital discharge instructions are written directions given to patients when they leave the hospital.

Other areas of the glossary

• Heart and circulation — Corazón y circulación
• Lungs and breathing — Pulmones y respiración
• Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios
• Mental health — Salud mental
• Reproductive health and pregnancy — Salud reproductiva y embarazo
• Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
• Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
• Hormones, diabetes and metabolism — Hormonas, diabetes y metabolismo
• Skin, hair and nails — Piel, cabello y uñas
• General care: tests, procedures and medicines — Atención general: pruebas, procedimientos y medicamentos