Glossary A

A

Abdomen

Area between the chest and the hips that contains the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and spleen.

Achalasia

Failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax.

Acute

Sudden onset of symptoms.

Acquired

Developed after birth.

Aerophagia

Ingestion of air.

Afferent nerves

Nerve fibers (usually sensory) that carry impulses from an organ or tissue toward the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), or the information processing centers of the enteric nervous system, which is located within the walls of the digestive tract.

Afferent pathways

Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a peripheral part (e.g., the gut or intestines) toward a nerve center (e.g., the central nervous system).

Aganglionosis

Absence of nerve cells.

Allodynia

Pain due to stimuli that do not normally provoke pain.

Allostasis

The ability of the organism to achieve stability through adaptation or change. This process, which is critical to our survival, involves the autonomic nervous system, the HPA axis, and the cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune systems which act to protect the body by responding to internal and external stimuli. Paradoxically, these same systems, when activated by stress, can protect and restore as well as damage the body.

Ambulatory care

Health services provided in a doctor's office, or on an outpatient basis.

Amino Acids

A group of 20 different kinds of small molecules that link together in long chains to form proteins. Often referred to as the "building blocks" of proteins.

Anal fissure

Crack in the skin in or adjacent to the anal canal.

Analgesic

Pain relieving.

Anastomosis, intestinal

Reattachment of two portions of bowel.

Anismus

A condition marked by the failure of pelvic floor muscles to relax, or a paradoxical contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, with defecation. Also referred to as pelvic floor dyssynergia.

Antinociception

Increased tolerance to pain.

Antispasmodics

Drugs that inhibit smooth muscle contraction in the gastrointestinal tract.

Anorectal manometry

A test that can be used to measure resting and squeezing anal sphincter pressures, rectal sensation and compliance, and sphincter response.

Anus

The opening of the rectum.

Autonomic nervous system

The part of the nervous system that controls involuntary actions of internal organs such as the bowel.

Keep reading....