Glossary

The abdomen is the part of the body between the chest and the hips that contains several digestive organs.

Abdominal adhesions are scar tissue that form in the abdominal cavity after abdominal surgery or injury. This scar tissue can lead to chronic pelvic pain and bowel obstructions.

There are several digestive organs in the body that are not part of the digestive tract, but are part of the digestive system. These are called the accessory digestive organs.

A definition of the term achlorhydria, a stomach condition that can occur after gastric surgery or a stomach ulcer.

Amino acids create proteins, and are important to certain body functions.

A procedure known as fecal bacteriotherapy (FB) or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a novel treatment being studied for use in IBD.

Anemia is an extremely common condition that is caused by a lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Anticholinergics are a class of drugs that reduce muscles spams in the intestine which are often used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The anus is the digestive organ at the end of the gastrointestinal tract.

A barium enema is a test that is used to help a physician determine what is going on inside the large intestine and make a diagnosis.

Borborygmi may sound like a disease, but is actually a normal part of digestion that happens to everyone from time to time.

Candida is a fungus that occurs naturally in several places in the body, but can cause infection if it overgrows into a condition called candidiasis.

A definition of the digestive disease celiac disease, also sometimes known as celiac sprue, gluten intolerance, and nontropical sprue.

Clostridium difficile (or C difficile) is a bacteria that is normally found in the large intestine, but which can cause diarrhea after a course of antibiotics has killed healthy bacteria.

A colectomy is the surgical removal of part or all of the colon and the rectum which may be used to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or colorectal cancer.

A definition of the term colitis, which can refer to ulcerative colitis or several other conditions including Crohn's colitis, ischemic colitis, collagenous colitis, and lymphocytic colitis.

Although it is the second leading cause of death among adults in the United States, colon cancer is also highly preventable. Learn more about the risks of colon cancer.

Colon cleansing, or removing stool from the bowel through the use of laxatives and enemas, is done as a way to remove toxins from the body.

Constipation is a common problem for many adults, but thankfully most cases can be resolved with some changes to diet and lifestyle.

Cushing's syndrome is a condition that is caused by excessive cortisol, which can occur with the use of corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone. Prednisone is often used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).

What Is Diarrhea?

Dilation is the widening of a tubular structure, including the esophagus or intestines, to open a narrowed section.

Cells that exhibit dysplasia are abnormal cells that are not cancerous.

Dietary fiber, found in plants, is also sometimes known as roughage or bulk. Fiber in your diet can help prevent both constipation and diarrhea.

Folic acid is a water-soluble, B-complex vitamin that is important for people with inflammatory bowel disease, especially those who may be taking methotrexate or sulfasalazine.

Generic drugs are a class of prescription drugs that have the same chemical make-up as their name-brand equivalent, but typically sell for a lower price.

A definition of the term 'Case Control Trial.'

A definition of the term 'Sigmoidoscopy.'

Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis to treat physical disease or psychological issues. Hypnotherapy is different than hypnosis done as a trick or onstage in front of an audience.

Idiopathic is the term that refers to a disease with no known cause.

Immunosuppresants are drugs often used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and to prevent organ or tissue rejection after a transplant.

Bowel incontinence, or fecal soiling, can be a problem for some people who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Ischemic colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine (colon) that occurs because of an interruption in the blood flow.

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin, mucus membranes, and the white part of the eyes caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice can be caused by several conditions including gallbladder and liver disease.

The lumen is the opening inside a tubular body structure that is surrounded by an epithelial membrane.

A nasogastric (NG) tube is a device that can be used for a variety of reasons in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in certain types of fish, are an important part of a balanced diet, and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease defined by inflammation of the bile ducts. PSC is commonly associated with both forms of IBD, but more frequently with ulcerative colitis than Crohn's disease.

A restricted fiber or low fiber diet plan limits the amount of fibrous and difficult to digest foods. This diet is often used after abdominal surgery or during a flare-up of IBD (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).

When too much of the small intestine has been removed, it can result in a condition called short bowel syndrome.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a specialized diet plan formulated as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other digestive conditions.

People with IBD are no stranger to ulcers. Learn about some different kinds of ulcers that can affect your skin, your mouth, and your intestines.

The Ulcerative Colitis Disease Activity Index (UCDAI) is a scale used by scientists to better quantify an individual's disease activity during a research study.

An enema may be used to relieve constipation or to clean out the bowel prior to surgery or a test (such as a colonoscopy).

The part of the colon that runs from right to left across the abdomen.

Laxatives are medications that may be used to treat constipation or to clean the colon.

A rare congenital condition that is normally diagnosed in infancy, alactasia is the lack of the enzyme lactase in the body.

An x-ray that uses contrast dye and can help a physician to find bleeding or in the abdominal blood vessels.

A type of intestinal condition where there is no physical blockage, but the intestine is not working properly. A pseudo-obstruction is poorly understood, and it can happen suddenly, or develop over a long period of time.

This law states that when a patron requires a restroom because of a condition such as a chronic illness or pregnancy, a business must allow them access to an employees-only facility.