What term refers to fat in the feces?

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Prepare for the SkillsUSA Medical Terminology Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions that include hints and explanations to boost your confidence for exam success!

Multiple Choice

What term refers to fat in the feces?

Explanation:
Fat in the stool is called steatorrhea. It signals fat malabsorption, because fats need bile and pancreatic enzymes to be broken down and absorbed. When that process is impaired, undigested fat remains in the stool, making it bulky, pale, greasy, and foul-smelling, and it may float. The other terms describe different GI issues: dyspepsia is indigestion; melena is black, tarry stools from digested blood; gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining. So the presence of fat in feces specifically points to steatorrhea.

Fat in the stool is called steatorrhea. It signals fat malabsorption, because fats need bile and pancreatic enzymes to be broken down and absorbed. When that process is impaired, undigested fat remains in the stool, making it bulky, pale, greasy, and foul-smelling, and it may float. The other terms describe different GI issues: dyspepsia is indigestion; melena is black, tarry stools from digested blood; gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining. So the presence of fat in feces specifically points to steatorrhea.

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