This document defines and describes several common medical terms and tests related to the digestive system. It explains that a nasogastric tube is inserted through the nose into the stomach to pump food in or suck fluids out. It also describes how a fecal occult blood test checks for hidden blood in stool, which can indicate various conditions. Additionally, it defines aspartate transaminase as a liver enzyme and explains how its levels indicate liver disease or damage. Finally, it provides details on gastroesophageal reflux disease, including that it occurs when stomach acid rises into the esophagus due to a faulty lower esophageal sphincter.

1. Chapter 8: Digestive
System Abbreviations and
Terms
By Stacie Hauenstein

2. Nasogastric (NG)
• Pertaining to the nose (nas/o) and stomach (gastr/o)
• A nasogastric tube is a flexible tube, which is inserted
into the nose, through the esophagus, and down into
the stomach
• A nasogastric tube can be used for pumping food into
the stomach or sucking fluids out of the stomach.

3. Example of Nasogastric (NG) tube

4. Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
• A Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) is a test to
determine if there is any blood in the feces.
• Some conditions that could cause blood in the
stool are colorectal cancer, hemorrhoids, anal
fissures, colon polyps, peptic ulcers, ulcerative
colitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
, Crohn’s disease.

5. Example of a FOBT

6. Aspartate Transaminase (AST)
• Aspartate Transaminase (AST) is an enzyme that is
normally present in the blood
• It is also a diagnostic procedure that tests for the AST
enzyme
• The levels of this enzyme are increased in people with
liver disease or damage
• The normal level of AST is 5-40 units per liter of serum

7. Examples of Livers

8. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
(GERD)
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) occurs when the
stomach acids comes back up into the esophagus.
• Usually occurs if the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is
not closing properly
• GERD can cause inflammation, pain, dental
problems, Barrett’s esophagus, brochospasms, esophageal
ulcers
• Some risk factors include alcohol, pregnancy, obesity, and
smoking

9. GERD

10. Bibliography
•
"Clinical Communication." Bed 10: Handover Activity 3. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
•
"Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)." WebMD. WebMD, 03 Jan. 0000. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
•
"Fecal Occult Blood Test." - Intelihealth. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
•
"What Are the Aminotransferases? - Liver Blood Test (Enzymes) Elevated, Normal - MedicineNet." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 15
Oct. 2013.
•
"Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of
Medicine, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
•
"Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What Is GERD (acid Reflux)? - MedicineNet." MedicineNet.
N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
•
Fremgen, Bonnie F., and Suzanne S. Frucht. "Chapter 8: Digestive System." Medical Terminology: A Living Language. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005. N. pag. Print.