| Galactocele |
a
milk-filled tumor in a blocked breast milk duct |
| Galactorrhea |
breast
milk production by a woman who is not pregnant and has not
just given birth |
| Galactose |
a
sugar that is formed from the breakdown of lactose |
| Galactosemia |
a
genetic disorder in which galactose cannot be converted into
glucose |
| Gallbladder |
a
small, pear-shaped sac positioned under the liver, which concentrates
and stores bile |
| Gallstone |
a
round, hard mass of cholesterol, bile, or calcium salts that
is found in the gallbladder or a bile duct |
| Gallstone
ileus |
an
abnormal condition in which a gallstone passes from the gallbladder
into the intestines through an abnormal passage and blocks
the intestine |
| Gamete
intrafallopian transfer |
a
method of treating infertility in which eggs are taken from
a woman's ovaries and fertilized with sperm and then the fertilized
egg is injected into one of her fallopian tubes |
| Gamma
globulin |
a
substance prepared from blood that carries antibodies to most
common infections; also used in immunizations |
| Ganglion |
a
fluid-filled cyst attached to a tendon sheath or joint |
| Gangrene |
death
of a tissue because of a lack of blood supply |
| Gastrectomy |
surgical
removal of all or part of the stomach |
| Gastric
acid |
the
digestive acid in the stomach |
| Gastric
juice |
digestive
fluids produced by the lining of the stomach that break down
proteins and destroy harmful organisms |
| Gastric
lavage |
washing
out of the stomach with water, often to treat poisoning; commonly
called "stomach pumping" |
| Gastric
ulcer |
a
peptic ulcer |
| Gastrin |
a
hormone that stimulates the release of gastric acid in the
stomach |
| Gastrinoma |
a
tumor that produces gastrin, making the stomach and duodenum
more acidic |
| Gastritis |
inflammation
of the mucous membrane lining of the stomach; can have a number
of causes, including viruses, bacteria, and use of alcohol
and other drugs |
| Gastroenteritis |
inflammation
of the stomach and intestines |
| Gastrointestinal
series |
a
set of X-rays, taken at different intervals after a barium
sulfate solution is swallowed, to examine the gastrointestinal
tract |
| Gastrointestinal
tract |
the
part of the digestive system that includes the mouth, esophagus,
stomach, and intestines |
| Gastroscopy |
examination
of the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small
intestine (duodenum) using an endoscope inserted through the
mouth |
| Gastrostomy |
the
surgical creation of an opening in the abdominal wall into
the stomach for drainage or a feeding tube |
| Gaucher's
disease |
a
genetic disorder in which lipids cannot be properly broken
down and build up in certain cells; causes enlargement of
the spleen and liver, bone damage, and anemia |
| Gavage |
an
artificial feeding technique in which liquids are passed into
the stomach by way of a tube inserted through the nose |
| Gene |
the
basic unit of DNA, which is responsible for passing genetic
information; each gene contains the instructions for the production
of a certain protein |
| General
anesthesia |
a
method of preventing pain in which the patient is induced
to lose consciousness |
| Generic
drug |
a
drug marketed under its chemical name, instead of a brand
name |
| Gene
therapy |
an
experimental procedure in which disease-causing genes are
replaced by normal, healthy genes |
| Genetic
analysis |
examination
of DNA in a laboratory to diagnose genetic disorders |
| Genetic
counseling |
information
and advice given to persons considering pregnancy about the
risk that a child will have an inheritable birth defect or
genetic disorder |
| Genetic
disorder |
a
disorder caused partly or completely by a defect in genes,
which carry hereditary information |
| Genetic
engineering |
the
alteration of genetic information to change an organism; mainly
used to produce vaccines and drugs such as insulin |
| Genital
herpes |
an
infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, which causes
a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters on the genitals; transmitted
through sexual contact |
| Genital
tract |
the
organs that make up the reproductive system |
| Genital
wart |
a
growth on the skin in or around the vagina, penis, or anus,
transmitted by sexual contact; can cause cancer of the cervix |
| Genome |
the
complete set of an organism's genes |
| Geographic
tongue |
a
condition in which the tongue is patchy where surface cells
break down |
| German
measles |
the
common name for Rubella |
| Germ
cell |
a
sperm or egg cell, or the immature form of either |
| Gestation |
the
period of time between fertilization of an egg by a sperm
and birth of a baby |
| Giardiasis |
infection
with a single-celled parasite, causing abdominal cramps, diarrhea,
and nausea |
| GIFT |
see
Gamete intrafallopian transfer |
| Gingivectomy |
surgical
removal of a diseased part of the gums |
| Gingivitis |
inflammation
of the gums, typically caused by a buildup of plaque due to
poor hygiene |
| GI
series |
see
Gastrointestinal series |
| Gland |
a
group of cells or an organ that produces substances (such
as hormones and enzyme) that are used by the body |
| Glaucoma |
a
disease in which eye damage is caused by an increase in the
pressure of the fluid within the eye |
| Glioblastoma
multiforme |
a
fast-growing, cancerous brain tumor |
| Glioma |
a
brain tumor arising from cells that support nerve cells |
| Glomerulonephritis |
inflammation
of the filtering structures in the kidneys, hindering removal
of waste products from the blood |
| Glomerulosclerosis |
scarring
of the filtering structures in the kidneys due to damage |
| Glossectomy |
surgical
removal of all or part of the tongue |
| Glucagon |
a
hormone produced by the pancreas that converts stored carbohydrates
(glycogen) into glucose, the body's energy source |
| Glucose |
a
sugar that is the main source of energy for the body |
| Glucose
tolerance test |
a
test that evaluates the body's response to glucose after a
period of fasting; used to check for diabetes mellitus |
| Glycogen |
the
main form that glucose, the body's energy source, takes when
it is stored |
| Glycosuria |
glucose
in the urine |
| Goiter |
enlargement
of the thyroid gland, which produces a swelling on the neck |
| Gonadotropic
hormones |
hormones
that stimulate activity in the ovaries and testicles |
| Gonorrhea |
a
common sexually transmitted disease, characterized by painful
urination or a discharge from the penis or vagina |
| Gout |
a
disorder marked by high levels of uric acid in the blood;
usually experienced as arthritis in one joint |
| Graft |
healthy
tissue that is used to replace diseased or defective tissue |
| Grand
mal |
a
type of seizure occurring with epilepsy, producing loss of
consciousness and involuntary jerking movements |
| Granuloma |
a
mass of tissue that forms at a site of inflammation, injury,
or infection as a part of the healing process |
| Graves'
disease |
an
autoimmune disease that causes goiter, overproduction of thyroid
hormones, and sometimes bulging eyeballs |
| Guillain-BarrZ
syndrome |
a
peripheral nervous system disease in which nerve inflammation
causes weakness, loss of movement, and loss of sensation in
the arms and legs |
| Guthrie
test |
a
blood test performed on babies to test for phenylketonuria |
