Gastrointestinal Bleeding Glossary of Terms

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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 ...

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

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.

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

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

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

Blood transfusion: The transfer of blood or blood components from one person (the donor) i...

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

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

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

Chronic kidney failure: See: Chronic renal failure.

Cirrhosis: Liver disease characterized by irreversible scarring. Alcohol and viral hepatit...

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...

Constipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op...

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...

Digital rectal exam: A routine exam in which a physician inserts a lubricated, gloved fing...

Diverticula: The plural of diverticulum.

Diverticulosis: Diverticulosis is the condition of having diverticula, small outpouchings...

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

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

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

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

Esophageal: Related to the esophagus.

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

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

Fiber: The parts of fruits and vegetables that cannot be digested. Fiber is of vital impor...

Gastric: Having to do with the stomach.

Gastric ulcer: A hole in the lining of the stomach corroded by the acidic digestive juices...

Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach.

Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large inte...

Gastrointestinal tract: The stomach and intestines. Abbreviated GI tract.

GI tract: Short for gastrointestinal tract. See: Gastrointestinal tract.

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

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

Helicobacter pylori: A bacterium that causes stomach inflammation (gastritis) and ulcers i...

Hemorrhage: Bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood.

Hemorrhoids: Dilated (enlarged) veins in the walls of the anus and sometimes around the re...

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 bleeding: Bleeding inside the body that is not seen from the outside. Internal bl...

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...

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...

Liver disease: Liver disease refers to any disorder of the liver. The liver is a large org...

Malformation: A structural defect in the body due to abnormal embryonic or fetal developme...

Microscopic: So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to macro...

Mucous: Pertaining to mucus, a thick fluid produced by the lining of some tissues of the b...

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

Peptic ulcer: An ulcer in the lining of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. Peptic ulcers...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

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

Resuscitate: To restore to life. Derived from the Latin resuscitare, to reawaken.

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

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

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.

Strain: 1. An injury to a tendon or muscle resulting from overuse or trauma. 2. A heredita...

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

Tear: A drop of the salty secretion of the lacrimal glands which serves to moisten the con...

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

Transfusion: The transfer of blood or blood products from one person (the donor) into the ...

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Trigger: Something that either sets off a disease in people who are genetically predispose...

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

Viruses: Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. I...

Vital: Necessary to maintain life. For example, breathing is a vital function.

Vomit: Matter from the stomach that has come up into and may be ejected beyond the mouth, ...