Crohns Disease Dictionary

abdomen: The middle section of the body located between the chest and the thighs. The abdomen includes the stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas and liver.

abscess: An area surrounded by inflamed tissue and filled with pus, designed to keep an infection from spreading.

anemia: A condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues of the body.

anti-inflammatory drugs: Drugs designed to relieve pain by controlling inflammatory processes in the body. Commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs include aspirin and corticosteroids.

anus: The opening of the rectum, through which feces pass.

appendicitis: The inflammation of the appendix, most often caused by bacterial infection.

autoimmune disorder: A disorder in which the body's defenses (the immune system) attack the body.

biopsy: A sample piece of tissue taken from an afflicted area of the body in order to help diagnose disease.

bloating: Pain or tightness in the abdomen caused by swelling or distention.

bowels: Another name for the intestines.

catheter: A tube used in various medical procedures (such as in a colonoscopy), usually inserted through body cavities, blood vessels or ducts.

Crohn's disease: An inflammatory bowel disease with symptoms including chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss.

colitis: The inflammation of the colon, often caused by infection.

colon: Sometimes used as another name for the large intestine, this part of the digestive tract is responsible for reclaiming water from feces as they pass through the intestines.

colonoscopy: A technique that uses a fiber-optic video camera or digital video camera to view the lining of the colon, helping doctors check for signs of inflammation, bleeding, ulcers, tumors and polyps (growths). It can also be used to take a biopsy.

diarrhea: Stools or feces that are loose and watery. A person with diarrhea often has bowel movements multiple times in a day, resulting in significant fluid loss that can lead to dehydration within two to three days.

digestive tract: Also called the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), the digestive tract includes all of the parts of the body that aid in digesting food and excreting waste, including the mouth, esophagus, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, stomach, intestines and rectum.

endoscopy: A technique that uses an endoscope (fiber-optic video camera or digital video camera) to view the inside of the body, helping doctors diagnose disease. It can also be used to take a biopsy.