gastritis
Meaning of gastritis: Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining that can cause upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, or, in some cases, no symptoms at all.
Definition of gastritis
Gastritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It can develop suddenly, known as acute gastritis, or persist over a longer period, known as chronic gastritis, and its severity can range from mild irritation to more significant inflammation of the stomach lining.
Common causes include infection with certain bacteria, regular use of certain pain-relieving medications, excessive alcohol use, and autoimmune processes in which the body's immune system targets the stomach lining. Symptoms, when present, can include upper abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, or a feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount, though gastritis can also occur without any noticeable symptoms.
Because several different causes can produce similar symptoms or a similar appearance of the stomach lining, evaluating gastritis often involves endoscopy with biopsy to help identify the specific underlying cause.
How gastritis is built
- gastr/o Combining form · Greek stomach
- -itis Suffix · Greek inflammation
A medical term is read from its ending backwards: the suffix first, then the prefix, then the root. See all 223 word parts.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Endoscopy revealed findings consistent with gastritis in the region of the stomach lining.
Good to know
Gastritis describes inflammation of the stomach lining and is distinct from a peptic ulcer, which is a break in the lining that extends deeper into the stomach or duodenal wall, though the two can occur together.
Word origin
Where “gastritis” comes from
Formed from gastr-, from Greek gaster, meaning "stomach," and -itis, meaning "inflammation."