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G GlossaryA | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | MN | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z GABA - An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system; acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. gallbladder - The organ that stores the bile made in the liver. Eating signals the gallbladder to empty the bile through the bile ducts to help digest fats. gallstones - The solid masses or stones made of cholesterol or bilirubin that form in the gallbladder or bile ducts. gamma camera - Basic instrument used to produce a nuclear medicine image. gamma-knife - The gamma knife is used in the treatment of lesions in the brain by a noninvasive surgical technique called stereotaxic radiosurgery. It is a safe, precise, bloodless procedure. The gamma knife uses 201 beams of highly focused gamma rays. The beams are precisely aimed so as to treat only the target (tumor, trigeminal nerve, etc.) with minimal risk to adjacent brain structures. ganglion - A cluster of nerve cells. ganglion cysts - Non-cancerous, fluid-filled cysts are common masses or lumps in the hand and usually found on the back of the wrist. gardner's syndrome - A condition in which many polyps form throughout the digestive tract. Because these polyps are likely to cause cancer, the colon and rectum are often removed to prevent colorectal cancer. gas - Air that comes from normal breakdown of food which is passed out of the body through the rectum (flatus) or the mouth (burp). gastrectomy - An operation to remove all or part of the stomach. gastric - Related to the stomach. gastric juices - Liquids produced in the stomach to help break down food and kill bacteria. gastric resection - An operation to remove part or all of the stomach. gastric ulcer - See stomach ulcer. gastrin - A hormone released after eating, which causes the stomach to produce more acid. gastritis -An inflammation of the stomach lining. gastrocolic reflex - Increase of muscle movement in the gastrointestinal tract when food enters an empty stomach which may cause the urge to have a bowel movement right after eating. gastroenteritis - An infection or irritation of the stomach and intestines, which may be caused by bacteria or parasites from spoiled food or unclean water. Other causes include eating food that irritates the stomach lining and emotional upsets such as anger, fear, or stress. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping. See also infectious diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. gastroenterologist - A physician who specializes in digestive diseases. gastroenterology - The field of medicine concerned with the function and disorders of the digestive system. gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) - Flow of the stomach's contents back up into the esophagus, which happens when the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter) is weak or relaxes when it shouldn't. May cause esophagitis. Also called esophageal reflux or reflux esophagitis. gastrointestinal (GI) Tract - The large, muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus, where the movement of muscles and release of hormones and enzymes digest food. Also called the alimentary canal or digestive tract. gastroparesis - Nerve or muscle damage in the stomach. Causes slow digestion and emptying, vomiting, nausea, or bloating. Also called delayed gastric emptying. gastrostomy - An artificial opening from the stomach to a hole (stoma) in the abdomen where a feeding tube is inserted. See also enteral nutrition. gated blood pool scan - A nuclear scan to see how the heart wall moves and how much blood is expelled with each heart beat, just after the patient has walked on a treadmill or ridden on a stationary bike. genes - Basic, functional units of heredity, each occupying a specific place on a chromosome. genetic counseling - Providing information, advice, and testing to prospective parents at risk of having a child with a birth defect or genetic disorder. genital herpes - A sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. genital warts - Sexually transmitted disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). GERD - See gastroesophageal reflux disease. geriatric - Of or relating to the aged or to characteristics of the aging process. geriatricacetylcholine - A chemical in the brain that acts as a neurotransmitter. gerontological research - The study and research that deals with diseases and problems specific to old people. gestational diabetes - Form of diabetes that may develop during pregnancy in women who do not otherwise have diabetes. GI - See gastrointestinal. giant cell arteritis - Disease causing inflammation of the temporal arteries and other arteries in the head and neck, causing the arteries to narrow, reducing blood flow in the affected areas; may cause persistent headaches and vision loss; also known as cranial arteritis, temporal arteritis, or Horton’s disease. GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer) - Method of treating infertility by removing eggs from a woman's ovaries, combining them with sperm from her partner or a donor in the laboratory, then placing the eggs and sperm together in one of her fallopian tubes, where fertilization can occur. glaucoma - Increased pressure in the eyeball which causes damage to the optic disc and impaired vision. glucose - A simple sugar the body manufactures from carbohydrates in the diet, which is the body's main source of energy. See also carbohydrates. glutamate - A salt or ester of glutamic acid, especially one that functions as a neurotransmitter that excites cells of the central nervous system. gluten - A protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats. gluten intolerance - See celiac disease. gluten sensitive enteropathy (also called celiac sprue or celiac disease) - A sensitivity to gluten, a wheat protein. Individuals with this disease must avoid gluten-containing grains, which include all forms of wheat, oats, barley and rye. glycogen - A sugar stored in the liver and muscles that releases glucose into the blood when cells need it for energy. Glycogen is the chief source of stored fuel in the body. glycogen storage diseases - A group of birth defects that change the way the liver breaks down glycogen. See also Glycogen. gonorrhea - Common sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium, which can lead to infertility in women. grading - A diagnostic process done in the lab with cells taken from the prostate to measure how aggressive the tumor is. The cancer cells are measured by how closely they look like normal cells. granuloma - A mass of red, irritated tissue in the GI tract found in Crohn's disease. granulomatous colitis - Another name for Crohn's disease of the colon. granulomatous enteritis - Another name for Crohn's disease of the small intestine. gray matter - The darker-colored tissues of the central nervous system; in the brain, the gray matter includes the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, the basal ganglia, and the outer layers of the cerebellum. guillain-barre syndrome - A disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system. gynecology - The branch of medicine dealing with health care for women, especially the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the female reproductive organs. |
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