Medical terms - Letter G (page 2) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Gargoylism

From the French gargouille (waterspout), the word conveys the often-grotesque image of the medieval cathedral gargoyle. The term gargoylism was once applied to a condition today called Hurler syndrome.
Garlic

A perennial herb of the lily family cultivated for its pungent, edible bulbs. Garlic has been used with the intention of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Allergic reactions, skin inflammation, and stomach upset…
Gas chromatography (GC)

A type of automated chromatography (a technique used to separate mixtures of substances) in which the mixture to be analyzed is vaporized and carried by an inert gas through a special column and thence to a detection…
Gas exchange

The primary function of the lungs involving the transfer of oxygen from inhaled air into the blood and the transfer of carbon dioxide from the blood into the exhaled air
Gas, intestinal

The complaint referred to as 'intestinal gas' is a common one and the discomfort can be quite significant. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by burping or passing it through the rectum. In many instances people think…
Gas, laughing

Nitrous oxide, a gas capable of causing general anesthesia. Today nitrous oxide is sometimes given in the company of other anesthetic agents but is no longer used as the sole anesthetic agent because the concentration…
Gastrectomy

Surgery to remove part of all of the stomach.
Gastric

Having to do with the stomach
Gastric atrophy

A condition in which the stomach muscles shrink and become weak. It results in a lack of digestive juices. Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach
Gastric banding

A surgically implanted device used to help a person lose weight. In a surgical procedure, a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch that can hold only a small amount of food. The…
Gastric cancer

Cancer of the stomach, the major organ that holds food for digestion. Worldwide, stomach cancer is the second most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of death from cancer. It can develop in any part of the…
Gastric emptying study

Gastric emptying study: A gastric emptying study evaluates the emptying of food from the stomach. For a gastric emptying study, a patient eats a meal in which the solid food, liquid food or both are mixed with a small…
Gastric MALT lymphoma

A low-grade malignant lymphoma of the stomach associated with chronic infection by the bacterium H. pylori. Three-quarters of gastric MALT lymphomas regress after the eradication of H. pylori with antibiotics. The…
Gastric outlet

The exit from the stomach through the pyloric channel and duodenum
Gastric outlet obstruction

Any disease that mechanically impedes gastric emptying, the normal emptying of the stomach. There is obstruction of the channel of the pylorus and duodenum through which the stomach empties. The cause of the obstruction…
Gastric stapling

A surgical procedure that converts the upper part of the stomach into a very small pouch by stapling portions of the stomach together, forcing an obese person to eat only tiny portions yet still feel full. It is…
Gastric ulcer

A hole in the lining of the stomach corroded by the acidic digestive juices which are secreted by the stomach cells. Ulcer formation is related to H. pyloridus bacteria in the stomach, anti-inflammatory medications, and…
Gastric volvulus

See: Volvulus
Gastritis

Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach. From the Latin gastricus meaning stomach + -itis, meaning inflammation.
Gastroentenologist

A common misspelling of gastroenterologist
Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and the intestines. Can cause nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Gastroenteritis has numerous causes: including infectious organisms (viruses, bacteria, etc.), food…
Gastroenterologic disease

Any disease of the digestive system. Gastroenterologic disorders include Barrett's esophagus, bile duct disease, celiac disease, cirrhosis of the liver, colon polyps and colon cancer, constipation and diarrhea, Crohn's…
Gastroenterologist

A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and biliary system
Gastroenterology

The medical specialty devoted to the study, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the digestive system. These disorders may affect the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon)…
Gastroesophageal

Pertaining to both the stomach and the esophagus, as in the gastroesophageal junction, the place where the esophagus connects to the stomach
Gastroesophageal junction

The junction between the stomach and the esophagus; the place where the esophagus connects to the stomach
Gastroesophageal reflux

The return of stomach contents back up into the esophagus This frequently causes heartburn because of irritation of the esophagus by stomach acid. NTER> Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can lead to scarring and…
Gastrointestinal

Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large intestines. The commonly used abbreviation for gastrointestinal is GI. (Outside of medicine, GI can also stand for galvanized iron, general issue or…
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor

GIST. A type of tumor that usually begins in cells in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. It can be benign or malignant. Malignant GISTs can occur from the esophagus to the rectum, but occur most commonly in the…
Gastrointestinal tract

The tube that extends from the mouth to the anus in which the movement of muscles and release of hormones and enzymes digest food. The gastrointestinal tract starts with the mouth and proceeds to the esophagus, stomach…
Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis: Gastroparesis is a medical condition in which the muscle of the stomach is paralyzed by a disease of either the stomach muscle itself or the nerves controlling the muscle. As a consequence, food and…
Gastropathy

Disease of the stomach, as in hypoproteinemic hypertrophic gastropathy. Gastropathy comes from gastro- referring to the stomach + the Greek pathos meaning disease. Pronounced gas-trop-a-the with the emphasis on the trop.
Gastropathy, hypertrophic hypoproteinemic

See: Giant hypertrophic gastritis
Gastropathy, hypoproteinemic hypertrophic

See: Giant hypertrophic gastritis
Gastroschisis

A birth defect in which there is a separation in the abdominal wall. Through this opening protrudes part of the intestines which are not covered by peritoneum (the membrane that normally lines the inside of the…
Gastroscope

A flexible, lighted instrument that is put through the mouth and down the esophagus to view the stomach. Tissue from the stomach can also be removed through the gastroscope
Gastrostomy

A surgical opening into the stomach. This opening may be used for feeding usually via a feeding tube called a gastrostomy tube. This can also be done by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). PEG is a surgical…
Gastrostomy, percutaneous endoscopic (PEG)

A surgical procedure for placing a feeding tube without having to perform an open laparotomy (operation on the abdomen). The aim of PEG is to feed those who cannot swallow. PEG may be done by a surgeon, otolaryngologist…
Gaucher disease

Gaucher disease: A series of 5 diseases due to deficient activity of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase, leading to accumulation of glucocerebroside in tissues of the body. The 5 types of Gaucher disease encompass a…
Gaucher disease, type 1

Gaucher disease, type 1: The most common and best known form of Gaucher disease. It affects the spleen, liver, and bone marrow and spares the brain. The symptoms include enlargement of the spleen (usually the first…
Gaucher disease, types 2-5

A series of disease due to glucocerebrosidase deficiency and accumulation of glucocerebroside in cells. By comparison with type 1 Gaucher disease, these are far less frequent forms of Gaucher disease. Types 2 and 3…
Gay

A person who is homosexual, especially a male homosexual. The word 'gay' in this regard may denote the homosexual individual or the lifestyle, particularly a male homosexual lifestyle
Gay gene

A gene located on the X chromosome which was alleged to determine male homosexuality. The 'gay gene' was dubbed homosexuality 1 (HMS1) and the male sexual orientation gene. It was thought to be in chromosome band Xq28…
Gay suicide risk

Suicide risk: High rates of suicide have consistently been reported among homosexuals, particularly among adolescents and young adults. A 1989 report concluded that 'gay youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt…
GB virus C

A virus first identified in 1995 that is genetically related to the hepatitis C virus but which does not cause hepatitis and, in fact, is not known to be responsible for any disease. Infection with GB virus C (GBV-C) is…
GBS

Group B strep (or George Bernard Shaw). See also Group B streptococcus infection
GBV-C

GB virus C, a virus first identified in 1995 that is genetically related to the hepatitis C virus but which does not cause hepatitis and, in fact, is not known to be responsible for any disease. Infection with GB virus…
GCRC

Gaucher's disease.
GD

Gaucher's disease
GDB

The Genome Database (GDB), the official central repository for genomic mapping data resulting from the Human Genome Initiative. Established at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA in 1990. In 1999, the…