Endoscopy in Crohn's Disease Glossary of Terms

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

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

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

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...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

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

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...

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...

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

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. ...

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 ...

Dyspepsia: Indigestion. A condition characterized by upper abdominal symptoms that may inc...

EGD: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

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...

Endoscopic ultrasound: Abbreviated EUS. A procedure that combines endoscopy and ultrasound...

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...

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: Also known as EGD or upper endoscopy. A procedure that enables...

Esophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lie...

Fetus: An unborn offspring, from the embryo stage (the end of the eighth week after concep...

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

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...

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 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...

Informed consent: The process by which a patient learns about and understands the purpose,...

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...

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...

Lower GI series: Short for lower gastrointestinal series. A series of x-rays of the rectum...

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

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...

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...

NG tube: See: Nasogastric tube.

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

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

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

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...

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

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

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 ...

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

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

Regional enteritis: Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine prima...

Sedative: A drug that calms a patient, easing agitation and permitting sleep. Sedatives ge...

Sigmoid: In human anatomy, the lower colon (the lower portion of the large bowel). Sigmoid...

Sigmoidoscopy: A procedure in which a physician inserts a viewing tube (sigmoidoscope) int...

Small bowel: Another name for the small intestine.

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

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.

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...

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

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...

Womb: The womb (uterus) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen ...

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