Inflammatory Bowel Disease Glossary of Terms

1. Irritable Bowel Disease Slideshow
2. Ulcerative Colitis 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.

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

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

Anastomosis: The connection of normally separate parts. An anastomosis may be naturally oc...

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 ...

Ankle: The ankle joint is complex. It is made up of two joints: the true ankle joint and ...

Antigen: A substance that the immune system perceives as being foreign or dangerous. The b...

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...

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...

Autoimmune process: A process in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys body ...

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

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

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...

Benign: Not malignant. A benign tumor is one that does not invade surrounding tissue or sp...

Blood count: The calculated number of white or red blood cells (WBCs or RBCs) in a cubic m...

Bone density: Bone density is the amount of bone tissue in a certain volume of bone. It ca...

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is ...

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

Cataract: A clouding or loss of transparency of the lens in the eye as a result of tissu...

Cecum: The first portion of the large bowel, which is situated in the lower-right quadrant...

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...

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...

Colonic: 1. See: Colonic (adjective). 2. See: Colonic (noun).

Colonoscope: A flexible, lighted instrument used to view the inside of the colon.

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...

Complete blood count: A set values of the cellular (formed elements) of blood. These meas...

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

Corticosteroid: Any of the steroid hormones made by the outer portion (cortex) of the adre...

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

Curable: Amenable to a cure, capable of being cured, to being healed and made well. From ...

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...

Dilation: The process of enlargement, stretching, or expansion. The word "dilatation" mean...

Distal: The more (or most) distant of two (or more) things. For example, the distal end of...

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

Dysplasia: Abnormality in form or development. For example, retinal dysplasia is abnormal ...

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...

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

Episcleritis: Inflammation of the episclera, a thin membrane that covers the white of the ...

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

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Fecal: Relating to the feces, the stool. The excrement discharged from the intestines.

Fecal occult blood test: A test to check for hidden blood in the stool.

Feces: The excrement discharged from the 'intestines.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

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

Hemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells. He...

Heparin: An anticoagulant (anti-clotting) medication. Heparin is useful in preventing thro...

Idiopathic: Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be te...

Ileal pouch: A surgically created chamber made up of a portion of the lower part of the il...

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...

Indication: 1. In medicine, a condition which makes a particular treatment or proce...

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...

Inflammatory response: A fundamental type of response by the body to disease and injury, a...

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

Intervention: The act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the intent of modify...

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

Intubation: The process of putting a tube into a hollow organ or passageway, often into th...

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...

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

Lens: The transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina.

Liquid diet: The Liquid diet is the restriction of solid food intake, and replacement of s...

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

Lymphocytes: A small white blood cell (leukocyte) that plays a large role in defending the...

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

Malignancy: A tumor that is malignant (cancerous), that can invade and destroy nearby tiss...

Malignant: 1. Tending to be severe and become progressively worse, as in malignant ...

Medical school: A school with a curriculum leading to a medical degree. The mission of eve...

Megacolon: An abnormally enlarged colon. Megacolon can arise as a serious congenital probl...

Mercaptopurine: A drug that acts as an antimetabolite, interfering with the metabolism of ...

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

Mucosa: Having to do with a mucous membrane. For example, the oral mucosa.

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

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

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.

Nicotine: An alkaloid (a nitrogen-containing chemical) made by the tobacco plant or produc...

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

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

Occult: Hidden. For example, occult blood in the stool is hidden from the eye but can be d...

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...

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.

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

Parasitic: Having to do with a parasite, as in a parasitic infection; or acting like a par...

Perianal: Located around the anus, the opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.

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

Precursor: Forerunner. That which precedes or is derived from an available source.

Probability: The likelihood that something will happen. For example, a probability of less...

Proctitis: Inflammation of the rectum. Proctitis may be due to a considerable number of ca...

Protein: One of the three nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Protein...

Pseudomembranous colitis: Severe inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. Pseudomemb...

Pyoderma gangrenosum: An ulcerating condition of skin that results in heaped borders with ...

Quadrant: A quarter of an area. For example, the liver is in the right upper quadrant of t...

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

Recur: To occur again; to return. For example, a symptom, sign, or disease can recur.

Recurrence: The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. The reappearance ...

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

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

Refractory: Not yielding, or not yielding readily, to treatment.

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

Relapse: The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a remission.

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

Resection: Surgical removal of part of an organ.

Risk of recurrence: The chance that a disease will strike again. In medical genetics, the ...

Rupture: A break or tear in any organ (such as the spleen) or soft tissue (such as the ach...

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

Sigmoidoscope: A lighted instrument that is used to view the inside of the lower colon.

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...

Stage: As regards cancer, the extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spre...

Stenosis: A narrowing. For example, aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve in ...

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...

Stricture: An abnormal narrowing of a body passage, especially a tube or a canal. The str...

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

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

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

Symptomatic: 1 With symptoms, as a symptomatic infection. 2 Characteristic o...

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...

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

Ulceration: The process or fact of being eroded away, as by an ulcer.

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

Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

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...

White blood cell count (leukocyte count): The number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the b...

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