Term	Explanation
ascites	an abnormal accumulation of fluid within the abdomen
anastomosis	a connection that is created between tubular structures, such as blood vessels or loops of intestine, e.g. when part of an intestine is surgically removed, the two remaining ends are sewn or stapled together
cholangiopathy	any disease of the bile ducts
clavicle	the bone extending from the breastbone (sternum) at the base of the front of the neck to the shoulder, also known as the collarbone
collaterals	a side branch, as of a blood vessel or nerve
coagulation	(also known as clotting) is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel
encephalopathy	a general term describing a disease that affects the function or structure of your brain
epigastrium	the part of the abdominal wall that is above the belly button
extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis	the development of a blood clot in the vein outside the liver that brings blood into the liver
focal biliary cirrhosis	inflammation and scarring of the liver tissue and bile ducts at one particular site of the liver, further impairing the release of bile and overall liver function
hepatic	relating to affecting, associated with, supplying or draining the liver
hepatic venous pressure	the venous pressure differences between portal vein and Inferior vena cava (a large vein which carries blood from lower part of the body to the heart ) distal to the liver
hepatic encephalopathy	brain dysfunction directly due to liver dysfunction, most often recognized in advanced liver disease
hepatic portal system	a group of veins that carry blood from blood vessels in the stomach, intestine, spleen and pancreas which merge into the portal vein, which then branches into smaller vessels and travels through the liver
heterogenous	different in kind, diverse, unlike each other
intrahepatic	within the liver
intravascular	within blood vessels
isotope	any of two or more types of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with a different number of neutrons (that is, a greater or lesser atomic mass) than the standard for that element and different physical properties
jugular	of or relating to the throat or neck or relating to the jugular vein
lesser omentum	part of the membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity which is found in a double layer and goes from the beginning of the small intestine and stomach’s lesser curvature to the liver
mesenteric	relating to the peritoneal or membranous fold attaching the small intestine to the dorsal body wall
mid‐clavicular line	a vertical line passing through the midpoint of the collarbone
occlusion	a shutting off, blocking or obstruction of something
oesophagus	the tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach, in humans it is about 23 cm long
parenchymal	the essential and distinctive tissue of an organ or an abnormal growth as distinguished from its supportive framework
parenchymal echogenicity	In ultrasonography, the extent to which functional part of an organ or structure gives rise to reflections of ultrasonic waves
portal hypertension	an increase in the blood pressure within a system of veins called the portal venous system (or hepatic portal system ‐ see above)
porto‐systemic shunt	also known as a liver shunt, is a bypass of the liver by the body's circulatory system i.e. a blood vessel that carries blood around the liver instead of through it
splenomegaly	enlargement of the spleen
spleen	the spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body, acting as a filter for blood as part of the immune system, recycling old red blood cells and storing platelets and white blood cells; it also helps fight certain kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis.
splenorenal	of relating to or joining the veins in the spleen veins or arteries in the kidneys
steatosis	a build up of fat in the liver
stenosis	a narrowing of a passage or vessel
scintigraphy	a diagnostic technique which uses small amounts of radioactive materials called radiotracers, a special camera and a computer to evaluate an organ's function and anatomy and determine whether it is working properly
technetium	a radioactive tracer isotope widely used in nuclear medicine e.g. scintigraphy (see above)
thrombosis	formation or presence of a blood clot in a blood vessel
varices (singular: varix)	abnormally dilated and lengthened veins, arteries or lymph vessels, e.g. a varicose vein