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ulcer
A sore that wears away tissue. An ulcer can occur on the skin but most often occurs in the body, particularly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is a set of organs (including the stomach) that is responsible for digesting food, or separating the nutrients in it from the waste. An ulcer in the GI can create a hole in the stomach's lining and cause blood vessels (carriers) to burst, leaking both blood and stomach acids into the wrong parts of the GI. When this happens, a person may vomit blood or feel long-lasting pain from the belly button to the chest. If untreated, the person's GI can become infected or the person may experience other fatal conditions requiring immediate medical treatment and critical care.
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Last modified at 9/8/2009 9:18 AM by Committee
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