Crohn's Disease in Children and Teens Glossary of Terms

1. Irritable Bowel Disease Slideshow
2. Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the Tummy Trouble Quiz

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Abscess: A local accumulation of pus anywhere in the body. The following are some example...

Absorption: Uptake. For example, intestinal absorption is the uptake of food (or other sub...

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Anemia: The condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity ...

Anus: The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Autoimmune: Pertaining to autoimmunity, a misdirected immune response that occurs when the...

Autoimmune disease: An illness that occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own i...

Autoimmunity: A misdirected immune response that occurs when the immune system goes awry a...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Barium: 1. A metallic element belonging to the alkaline earths with an atomic numbe...

Barium enema: An enema using a white, chalky solution containing barium, in preparation fo...

Bile: Bile is a yellow-green fluid that is made by the liver, stored in the gallbladder a...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Bladder: A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste f...

Blood clots: Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. Also called a t...

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

Bumps: The raised area of a bump or bruise results from blood leaking from these injured b...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Chronic disease: A disease that persists for a long time. A chronic disease is one lasting...

Clinical trials: Trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of medications or medical...

Colectomy: An operation to remove all or part of the colon (large intestine). In a partial...

Colitis: Inflammation of the large intestine (the colon). There are many forms of coliti...

Colon: The long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. The remaini...

Colon cancer: A malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine (the co...

Colonoscopy: A procedure whereby a physician inserts a viewing tube (colonoscope) into the...

Colostomy: An artificial exit from the colon created to divert waste through a hole in the...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Contrast: Short for "contrast media." Contrast media are X-ray dyes used to provide contra...

Cough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa...

Crohn's disease: A chronic inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large ...

CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ...

Digestive system: The system of organs responsible for getting food into and out of the bo...

Duct: A walled passageway, such as a lymph duct, that carries fluid from one place to anot...

Duodenum: The first part of the small intestine. The duodenum is a common site for peptic ...

Endoscope: A lighted optical instrument that is used to get a deep look inside the body. A...

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: Abbreviated ERCP. A procedure done to diag...

Endoscopy: Examination of the inside of the body by using a lighted, flexible instrument c...

Enema: Liquid injected into the rectum. An enema may be used for therapeutic (such as to s...

ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography, a diagnostic procedure used to exam...

Erythema: Redness of the skin that results from capillary congestion. Erythema can occur w...

Erythema nodosum: An inflammatory reaction that occurs deep in the skin and is characteriz...

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Fistula: An abnormal passageway in the body. The fistula may go from the body surface int...

Flare: 1. an exacerbation of a chronic disease. Sometimes referred to as a flare-up, a fla...

Gallbladder: A pear-shaped organ located below the liver that stores the bile secreted by ...

Gallstones: Stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones can be as smal...

Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and the intestines. Gastroenteritis can cause...

Gastroenterologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases...

Gastroenterology: The medical specialty devoted to the study, diagnosis and treatment of d...

Gastrostomy: A surgical opening into the stomach. A gastrostomy may be used for feeding, u...

Gene: The basic biological unit of heredity. A segment of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) need...

Genes: The basic biological units of heredity. Segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nee...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Hemorrhage: Bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood.

Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, irrespective of the cause. Hepatitis is caused by a ...

Ileostomy: An opening into the ileum, part of the small intestine, from the outside of the...

Ileum: Part of the small intestine beyond the jejunum and before the large intestine (colo...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune response: Any reaction by the immune system. For example, poison ivy can cause an i...

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Inflammatory bowel disease: A group of chronic intestinal diseases characterized by infla...

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

Intestine: The long, tubelike organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion...

Iron: An essential mineral. Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen (via hemoglobin ...

Jejunum: Part of the small intestine. It is half-way down the small intestine between its...

Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Lab test: A test that is done in the laboratory where the appropriate equipment, supplies,...

Large intestine: Comes after the small intestine. Large because it is wider than the smal...

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Malabsorption: Poor intestinal absorption of nutrients. Malabsorption can occur from disea...

Malaise: A vague feeling of discomfort, one that cannot be pinned down but is often sensed...

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

Nasogastric: Referring to the passage from the nose to the stomach. Abbreviated NG.

Nasogastric tube: A tube that is passed through the nose and down through the nasopharynx ...

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Necrosis: The death of living cells or tissues. Necrosis can be due, for example, to ische...

NG tube: See: Nasogastric tube.

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Nutrition: 1) The science or practice of taking in and utilizing foods. 2) A nourishing ...

Nutritionist: 1) In a hospital or nursing home, a person who plans and/or formulates spe...

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

Operation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The...

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

Osteoporosis: Thinning of the bones, with reduction in bone mass, due to depletion of calc...

Ostomy: An operation to create an opening from an area inside the body to the outside.

Outpatient: A patient who is not hospitalized, but instead comes to a physician?s office, ...

PA-C: Physician Assistant - Certified.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pancreas: A spongy, tube-shaped organ that is about 6 inches long and is located in the ba...

Parenteral: Not delivered via the intestinal tract. For example, parenteral nutrition is f...

Pathologist: A physician who identifies diseases and conditions by studying abnormal cells...

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

Pediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Physical growth: See: Normal growth.

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

Primary care provider: In insurance parlance, a physician who is chosen by or assigned to ...

Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific orde...

Puberty: Adolescence, the period in which the human body first becomes capable of reproduc...

Pus: A thick, whitish-yellow fluid that results from the accumulation of white blood cells...

Rectal bleeding: Blood passed rectally. Blood in the stool can be bright red or maroon in ...

Rectum: The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until...

Red blood cell: The blood cell that carries oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is...

Red blood cells: The blood cells that carry oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is...

Regimen: A plan or a regulated course, such as a diet, exercise, or treatment, that is des...

Remission: Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer or other disease. A remission...

Resection: Surgical removal of part of an organ.

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Small bowel: Another name for the small intestine.

Small intestine: The part of the digestive tract that extends from the stomach to the larg...

Spine: 1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects ...

Staging: stagingDoing exams and tests to learn the extent of a cancer, especially whether ...

Steroid: One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon struc...

Stoma: An opening into the body from the outside that is created by a surgeon.

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Stool: The solid matter that is discharged in a bowel movement.

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Superficial: In anatomy, on the surface or shallow. As opposed to deep. The skin is superf...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Terminal ileitis: Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine involvi...

Therapeutic: Relating to therapeutics, the branch of medicine that is concerned specifical...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Tired: A feeling of a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency of accomplishment,...

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ...

Tumor necrosis factor: One of multiple proteins capable of inducing necrosis (death) of tu...

Ulcer: A lesion that is eroding away the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers can have various ...

Ulcerative colitis: A bowel disease that is characterized by inflammation with ulcer forma...

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

Upper GI series: A series of x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine (upper ...

Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

Urinary tract: The organs of the body that produce, store, and discharge urine. These orga...

Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back t...

Virus: A microorganism that is smaller than a bacterium that cannot grow or reproduce apar...

Vitamins: The word "vitamin" was coined in 1911 by the Warsaw-born biochemist Casimir Funk...

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...

White blood cell: One of the cells the body makes to help fight infections. There are seve...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...

Youth: The time between childhood and maturity.