Medical Glossary - Letter G¶

This medical glossary of terms beginning with the letter "G" contains the more common medical terms one might expect to encounter in a medical report or in hospital notes. The glossary is intended as a quick reference only; many of the terms are also referenced and illustrated in more detail in the medical libraries, to which you should refer for more detailed information.

Gag Reflex¶

A reaction to touching the back of the throat, causing an uncontrollable contraction of the throat muscles resulting in retching and an urge to vomit

Gait¶

The term gait refers to the manner in which someone walks; it is frequently used to describe an abnormal fashion of walking e.g., a stepping gait, or a high stepping gait

Galeazzi Fracture¶

A fracture dislocation involving a fracture of the distal (wrist end) radius and a dislocation of the head of the ulna

Gallbladder¶

The gallbladder is a pear shaped sac that is attached to the underside of the right lobe of the liver. It is the reservoir for bile produced by the liver

Ganglion¶

The term may mean either a collection of nerve cells or describe a kind of cyst that occurs on the back of the hand

Gangrene¶

Tissue death; usually due to vascular insufficiency. There are several types including dry gangrene and gas gangrene

Gastrectomy¶

An operation for removal of part or all of the stomach

Gastric Artery¶

An abdominal artery. There are two gastric arteries. The right gastric artery originates from the hepatic artery, the left from the celiac artery. They supply blood to the stomach and the esophagus

Gastric Lavage¶

Gastric lavage is a procedure used to empty the stomach of its contents. A flexible rubber tube containing a salt solution is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach and the contents are then suctioned out. It may be referred to as a stomach pump. The procedure is usually performed on patients who have ingested a toxic substance

Gastrocnemius¶

One of the calf muscles, it extends from the back of the thigh to the Achilles tendon. It functions to assist in flexing the leg at the knee and to assist plantar flexion of the foot

Gastrointestinal Tract¶

This describes the stomach and small and large intestines

Gastrostomy¶

A gastrostomy is a surgical incision into the abdomen to create an opening to place a feeding tube (a gastrostomy tube). It is usually performed because of inability to swallow due to some lesion of the esophagus (gullet) and is an alternative to nasogastric feeding. Gastrostomy may be done by open surgery or percutaneously. In the case of the latter it is called a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. An incision is still made into the abdomen but it is small compared to the open surgery gastrostomy

Gemellus Inferior¶

A muscle originating from the ischial tuberosity of the pelvis, which inserts onto the greater trochanter of the femur. It provides lateral rotation of the hip and helps stabilize the hip

Gemellus Superior¶

A muscle originating from the spine of the ischium of the pelvis and inserting onto the greater trochanter of the femur. It provides lateral rotation of the hip and helps stabilize the hip

Genioglossus Muscle¶

A muscle with one end attached to the tongue and the other to the mandible. Its function is to assist in moving the tongue

Geniohyoid Muscle¶

A muscle located between the mandible and the hyoid bone in the neck that acts to depress the jaw

Genitofemoral Nerve¶

The genitofemoral nerve is a sensory nerve that provides sensation to the skin of the scrotum in males and labia majora in the female. It also provides sensation to the front of the thigh

Genu Valgum¶

Knock-kneed

Genu Varum¶

Bow-legged

Gingiva¶

The gums, the soft tissue that covers the upper and lower jawbone

Gingivitis¶

Inflammation of the gums

Gingivoplasty¶

Gingivoplasty, or gingivectomy is a surgical procedure to reshape or repair the gum (gingiva)

Glabella¶

The area of the frontal bone between the eyes and above the nose

Glaucoma¶

An eye disease caused by increased intra-ocular pressure. If not relieved it results in destruction of the retina and blindness in the affected eye

Glenohumeral Joint¶

Relates to the glenoid cavity of the scapula and the humerus, it is the true shoulder joint

Glenohumeral Ligament¶

A shoulder ligament, it helps support the shoulder

Glenoid Cavity¶

This refers to a depression in the scapula, which receives the head of the humerus, thus forming the shoulder joint

Glenoid Fossa¶

Part of the temporal bone of the skull, it is a depression in the inner surface of the bone. The mandibular condyle fits into the fossa forming the temporomandibular joint

Globus Pallidus¶

Part of the basil ganglia, which lies within the cerebrum. The globus pallidus regulates the muscle tone necessary for specific intentional body movements

Glossopharyngeal¶

Relating to the tongue and the pharynx

Glottis¶

Part of the larynx, it is the "voice producing" structure of the larynx

Gluteus Maximus¶

The largest of three muscles that form the buttocks, it is the most superficial of the three. It aids extension and abduction of the thigh

Gluteus Medius¶

One of three muscles lying beneath the gluteus maximus that form the buttock. It aids abduction and rotation of the thigh

Gluteus Minimus¶

The deepest of three muscles that form the buttock. It aids in abduction and rotation of the thigh

Goitre¶

Swelling of the thyroid gland, often due to the gland being overactive

Gonad¶

In the male, the testicle, in the female the ovary

Gout¶

An excess of uric acid in the blood

Gracilis Muscle¶

A muscle located on the inner side of the thigh. It serves to adduct the thigh and to flex the knee

Grand Mal¶

A type pf epileptic seizure manifested by loss of consciousness and convulsions

Granulation¶

An early stage of wound healing

Great Saphenous Vein¶

The great saphenous vein commences in the arch of the foot and ascends along the inside of the leg to the thigh where it drains into the femoral vein

Greenstick Fracture¶

An incomplete fracture that occurs in children

Growth Cartilage¶

A layer of cartilage located between the shaft of a long bone and its epiphysis (its end). This site is where growth of long bones occurs. It is also known as the epiphyseal plate

Gut¶

Refers to the small or large intestine