Glossary
| Abscess |
a localized collection of pus, contained in a cavity |
| Anal Sphincter |
the muscles surrounding the anus that are able to contract or close the opening/anus |
| Anastomosis |
a union of one structure to another, usually joining one part of end of the bowel to another |
| Anus |
the opening at the end of the rectum through which stool is eliminated from the body |
| Appliance |
the device or pouch worn over the stoma to collect feces or urine |
| Blockage |
obstruction; a "clogging" of the bowel |
| Colitis |
inflammation of the colon (large bowel) |
| Colon |
large bowel or large intestine |
| Colostomy |
a surgically created opening bringing the colon to the surface of the skin |
| Continence |
the ability to keep stool, gas, or urine inside the body voluntarily |
| Cosmesis |
improved or enhanced appearance; in relation to laparoscopic surgery, a decrease in the length of incisions and subsequent scarring |
| Electrolyte |
a substance which conducts electricity when in solution; for dietary purposes, this includes sodium, chloride and potassium |
| Enterostomal Therapy Nurse (ET Nurse) |
a registered nurse specially educated to provide physical and psychological support to patients with stomas, wounds and incontinence |
| Familial Polyposis / FAP |
an inherited disease in which the colon and rectum contain a large number of polyps |
| Feces |
bodily wastes which are discharged through the anus or stomas; stool |
| Fissure |
painful, linear ulcer of groove a the margin of the anus |
| Fistula |
an abnormal passage or communication, usually between 2 internal organs ( e.g. one part of a bowel to a distant part of bowel, or bowel to bladder), or between an organ and the skin surface (enterocutaneous fistula) |
| Ileoanal Anastomosis |
joining the ileum to the anus following removal of the colon and rectum |
| Ileorectal Anastomosis |
joining the ileum to the rectum following removal of the colon |
| Ileostomy |
surgically created opening bringing the ileum to the surface of the skin |
| Impotence |
an inability to achieve and sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse |
| Incontinence |
the inability to control elimination of urine or feces |
| Koch Pouch or Continent Ileostomy |
construction of an internal abdominal pouch or reservoir with a nipple valve following removal of colon, rectum, and anus. The nipple valve serves to hold the feces inside the pouch as it fills, so that no waste matter can escape to the outside of the body between drainage |
| Laparoscopic |
surgery performed through the use of fibre-optic instruments |
| Loop Colostomy |
surgical opening in the colon. A loop of colon is brought through the abdominal wall to form a stoma |
| Mucosa |
the inner lining of the digestive tract and of other organs of the body |
| Mucus |
a lubricating substance produced by the digestive tract |
| Mucus Fistula |
a surgically created opening from a portion of the bowel to the skin that secretes only mucus |
| Ostomate |
person who has an ostomy |
| Ostomy |
a surgically created opening, usually on the abdominal wall, for the drainage of body wastes. Also referred to as a stoma |
| Pelvic Pouch |
an ileoanal reservoir or sac, created from the ileum; also referred to as Parks Pouch, "J" or "S" Pouch |
| Polyp |
an outgrowth from the mucosa of the colon |
| Pouchitis |
an inflammation of the reservoir or pouch (as in Pelvic Pouch or Kock Pouch) |
| Proctocolectomy |
removal of the colon, rectum, and anus with the creation of permanent ileostomy |
| Rectal Cuff |
the portion of the rectum, consisting of sphincter muscle, that is retained after the lining of the rectum is removed |
| Rectum |
the structure at the end of the colon which serves as a storage space |
| Resection |
excision or removal of a portion of an organ or structure |
| Reservoir |
a structure that serves as a storage place |
| Sphincter |
ring-like muscle which opens and closes voluntarily. The sphincter in the anus provides bowel control and the bladder sphincter controls urine |
| Stoma |
an opening; also referred to as an ostomy |
| Stool |
bodily wastes which are discharged through the anus or colostomy / ileostomy stomas. Also referred to as feces |
| Stricture |
an abnormal narrowing of a duct or passage (i.e. bowel) |
| Stricturoplasty | surgically opening a narrowing in the bowel without requiring resection of the narrowed portion |