Peptic ulcer

A hole in the lining of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer, an ulcer of the duodenum is a duodenal ulcer, and a peptic ulcer of the esophagus is an esophageal ulcer. A peptic ulcer occurs when the lining of these organs is corroded by the acidic digestive juices which are secreted by the stomach cells. Peptic ulcer disease is common, affecting millions of Americans yearly. The medical cost of treating peptic ulcer and its complications runs in the billions of dollars annually in the U.S.. Recent medical advances have increased our understanding of

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peptic ulcer n an ulcer in the wall of the stomach or duodenum resulting from the digestive action of the gastric juice on the mucous membrane when the latter is rendered susceptible to its action (as from infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori or the chronic use of NSAIDs)

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a breach in the lining (mucosa) of the digestive tract produced by digestion of the mucosa by pepsin and acid. This may occur when pepsin and acid are present in abnormally high concentrations or when some other mechanism reduces the normal protective mechanisms of the mucosa; bile salts may play a part, especially in stomach ulcers. A peptic ulcer may be found in the oesophagus (oesophageal ulcer, which is associated with reflux oesophagitis); the stomach (see gastric ulcer); duodenum (see duodenal ulcer); jejunum (jejunal ulcer, usually in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome); in a Meckel's diverticulum; and close to a gastroenterostomy (stomal ulcer, anastomotic ulcer, marginal ulcer).

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an ulcer of the mucous membrane of the alimentary tract, caused by action of acidic gastric juice. The most common locations are the stomach (see gastric u.) and duodenum (see duodenal u.); less often they may occur in the esophagus or in a part of the small intestine that has ectopic gastric mucosa and hence secretion of acid.