Glossary

abdomen
largest body cavity that contains the stomach, small intestines, colon, rectum, liver, spleen, pancreas, gall bladder, bladder, kidneys and appendix

abdominal
relating to the abdomen

acetaminophen
pain reliever and aspirin substitute found in over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol

acute
happening suddenly over a short period of time

alimentary canal
continuous tube that extends from the mouth to the anus in which food is processed and eliminated

anemia
decrease in the normal level of red blood cells in the bloodstream

anterior
at or toward the front

artery
a muscular tube that carries blood away from the heart and to all of the other organs of the body

asymptomatic
without symptoms

benign
not cancerous; does not spread to other parts of the body; the opposite of malignant

bile duct
tube that carries bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum

Board Certified
certification from the American Board of Surgery that the surgeon has the skills necessary to specialize in surgery

capillaries
smallest blood vessels of the circulatory system that connect arteries and veins; also referred to as capillary beds and network of capillaries

carcinogen
any substance that is known to cause cancer

catheter
a flexible tube inserted into the body to transfer fluids

chemotherapy
treatment of cancer with anti-cancer drugs

chronic
an illness lasting a long time or recurring

cirrhosis
chronic disease of the liver sometimes caused by alcohol abuse

circulatory system
network of tissues that transports blood through out the body; consists of blood vessels and the heart

claustrophobic
abnormal fear of being in a small, crowded or closed area

colorectal
relating to the colon and the rectum

contrast dye
special dye usually injected into the body to stain certain cells making them easier to image and interpret

digestive tract
group of organs in the body that together provide digestive functions; consists of the mouth, the pharynx, the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, the large intestine and the anus

DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid; nucleic acid found in the chromosomes in cells that transmits hereditary information when the cells reproduce

duodenum
first section of the small intestine

endothelial cells
flattened cells joined together to form a membrane; found in the lining of the heart, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, on the surface of the rain and spinal cord and in the eye

estrogen
a female sex hormone

falciform ligament
band of strong fibrous tissue that connects the right lobe and the left lobe of the liver

gastrointestinal system
consists of the esophagus, stomach, liver, small and large intestines

general anesthetic
a drug that puts the patient to sleep

hemoglobin
a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body

hepatic artery
blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood to the liver from the heart

hepatic portal vein
blood vessel that carries oxygen-poor blood from the liver back to the heart

hepatocellular carcinoma
primary liver cancer

Hodgkin's Disease
rare form of cancer that affects the lymphatic system

ibuprofen
pain reliever and anti-inflammatory found in over the counter drugs like Advil and Motrin

implants
a small container of radioactive material placed near cancer cells

inferior vena cava
large vein that returns blood to the heart from all of the organs below the diaphragm

intraarterially
injected into an artery

intravenously
injected into a vein

jaundice
yellow discoloration of the skin, the whites of the eyes and the mucous membranes caused by an excess of bile in the blood

lesion
generally, a wound; can refer to an injury, infection or a tumor

ligament
strong fibrous tissue that connects bones, cartilage and muscle

local anesthetic
a drug that blocks pain and deadens the area where it is applied

lymph nodes
small glands located throughout the lymphatic system that store cells that help fight infection and disease

lymphatic system
the tissues and organs that produce, store and transfer cells that help fight disease and infection; consists of bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus and the lymphatic vessels

malaise
vague feeling of discomfort like the onset of an illness

malignant
cancerous; cancer cells that may spread to other parts of the body

metastases
cancer cells that have spread from a primary site to another location in the body

metastatic
adjective used to describe cancer cells that have spread from a primary site somewhere else in the body

non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
cancer of the lymphatic system that is not Hodgkin's

noninvasive
adjective used to describe a procedure that is external and that minimizes side effects; refers to all procedures that do not "break the skin"

oncologist
physician specializing in the treatment of cancer

oral contraceptives
pills used by women to provide birth control

palliative
the process of relieving the symptoms of disease without curing it; the act of making the patient more comfortable

peritoneum
the tissue the lines the inside of the abdominal cavity

platelets
special blood cells that cause blood to clot and stop bleeding

primary tumor
the first mass of cancer cells to develop in the body

primary care physician
the physician one visits for physical exams and minor illnesses

radiation
process of releasing energy as particles or waves from a central source outward

radiation oncologist
physician specializing in the use of radiation therapy to treat cancer

radiation therapy
treatment that uses x-rays to kill cancer cells; also called radiotherapy

radioactivity
release of alpha and beta particles and gamma rays when atoms of one element change to atoms of another element

radiologist
physician specializing in making and interpreting pictures of the inside of the body

red blood cells
blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body

resectable
surgical removal of a section of an organ is a feasible option

resection
surgical removal of a section of an organ

sonographer
technician who specializes in the operation of ultrasound equipment

systemic
affecting the entire body; as in systemic treatment that treats every cell of the body

testosterone
a male sex hormone

tomography
the use of x-rays to produce images of one specific layer of tissue

tumor
an abnormal growth of cells in a lump or mass

unresectable
surgical removal of a section of an organ is not a feasible option

vasculature
relating to the vessels that carry blood throughout the body

vein
tube that carries blood to the heart from all of the other organs in the body

vessel
duct or tube that carries a body fluid; arteries and veins are vessels

viral hepatitis
inflammation of the liver caused by a virus like the Hepatitis B Virus or the Hepatitis C Virus

white blood cells
blood cells that fight infection and disease in the body; formed in the bone marrow

x-rays
acute invisible high-frequency electromagnetic waves that can penetrate certain substances like skin