Peptic Ulcers Glossary of Terms

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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 ...

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

Adjacent: Lying nearby. Related terms include superjacent, subjacent, and circumjacent. Fr...

Aluminum: A naturally occurring element that makes up about 8% of the surface of the earth...

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

Antrum: A general term for a nearly closed cavity or chamber. For example, the antrum of t...

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Anxiety disorder: A chronic condition characterized by an excessive and persistent sense o...

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

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...

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

Bacterium: The singular of bacteria.

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

Barium swallow: A test that involves filling the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines ...

Belly: That part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and t...

Belly button: The navel or umbilicus; the former site of attachment of the umbilical cord....

Bicarbonate: In medicine, bicarbonate usually refers to bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarb...

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

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

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

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Caffeine: A stimulant compound found naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa (chocolate), and kola...

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, ...

Carbon dioxide: A gas which is the byproduct of cellular metabolism and which collects in ...

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 ...

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

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

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

Cuts: Severed skin. Washing a cut or scrape with soap and water and keeping it clean and d...

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...

Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ...

Duodenal: Pertaining to the duodenum, part of the small intestine. As in duodenal ulcer or...

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

EGD: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

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...

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a livi...

Erosion: An erosion is an eating away of a surface. ("Erodere" in Latin means to eat out.)...

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

Feces: The excrement discharged from the 'intestines.

Gastric: Having to do with the stomach.

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

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

Generalized anxiety disorder: Abbreviated GAD. A condition characterized by 6 months or mo...

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

Heartburn: An uncomfortable feeling of burning and warmth occurring in waves rising up be...

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

Hemorrhage: Bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood.

Histamine: A substance that plays a major role in many allergic reactions, dilating blood ...

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

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 ...

Injure: To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emotional sense. Fr...

Intestinal obstruction: Blockage of the intestine by infolding (intussusception), malform...

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

Lethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor.

Magnesium: A mineral involved in many processes in the body including nerve signaling, the...

Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

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

Mortality: A fatal outcome or, in one word, death. The word "mortality" is derived from "m...

Mortality rate: A death rate. There are a number of different types of mortality rates as,...

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

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

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...

Navel: The umbilicus, the former site of attachment of the umbilical cord, usually found i...

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

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

NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a medication that is commonly prescribed or pu...

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

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

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...

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

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

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

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

Pylorus: The outlet of the stomach.

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ...

Radiation therapy: The use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells, stopping them from ...

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

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

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

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

Sore: 1. (adjective) A popular term for painful, such as a sore throat. 2. (...

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...

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.

Tachycardia: A rapid heart rate, usually defined as greater than 100 beats per minute.

Taste: A perception that results from stimulation of a gustatory nerve. Taste belongs to t...

Tetracycline: A family of broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against a remarkably wide v...

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

Tiredness: See: Tired.

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

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

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

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

Vagus nerve: A nerve that supplies nerve fibers to the pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box...

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

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

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

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

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: A rare disorder caused by a tumor called a gastrinoma, most of...