Ganglioneuromas
Rare tumors that occur most often in people aged between
10 and 40. They are usually benign (not cancerous) and are often
discovered during a test for another condition. There are no known risk
factors involved.
Gastroenterology
The study of your digestive system. A doctor who
specialises in disorders of the digestive system is called a
gastroenterologist.
Gastroscopy
This is a test that is used to look at the way you
digest food. An endoscope (a thin wobbly tube) is passed through your
mouth. It doesn't hurt but it gives you a bit of a sore throat
afterwards.
Gastrostomy
A way of feeding where the food goes directly into a tube in your stomach bypassing your mouth and throat.
Gene
Your genes are what makes you like your parents. Each
cell in your body contains about 50,000 different genes. Each gene tells
a particular cell how to work, so if you have a genetic problem, this
could mean that certain cells don’t work properly.
General anaesthetic
The name of a medication that sends a patient to sleep
and stops them feeling pain during a surgical procedure by blocking
signals from nerves to the brain.
Genetics
Genes are what make you like your parents. They decide
what colour your hair is, how tall you are and even what you sound like.
They're like computer data that's carried on DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid) and decoded by your body.
Germ
Germs cause diseases. There are different types of germ, including viruses and bacteria.
Gingiva
The medical word for your gums.
Gland
Glands are the areas of the body that give off hormones and enzymes.
Glue ear
This is a really common illness in children. Fluid
builds up inside the middle ear and goes sticky like glue. This stops
the little bones in the ear from moving about which makes it difficult
to hear. It usually clears up on its own, but you may need a small
drainage tube put into your eardrum called a grommet.
Granulocyte
This is a type of white blood cell – there are three
types of granulocyte – neutrophils, basophils and eosonophils.
Neutrophils are the most important – they fight bacteria by swallowing
it up and are what makes pus!
Grommet
This is a small drainage tube that is used to treat glue ear.
Gums
Your gums are what hold your teeth in place. They fit
tightly around the base of each tooth to stop germs getting inside your
jaw. Healthy gums are usually a light pink or brown colour, but if your
gums bleed a lot when you brush your teeth, this could be a sign of gum
disease.
