Ostomy Glossary of Terms
We have included a ‘glossary of terms’ within our ‘You and Your’ booklets. Your patients can utilise this glossary as a reference point to check any of the terms or descriptions they are unsure about when they are reading literature or which they may hear during consultations.
The part of the body that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs. This may also be referred to as: “tummy”, “belly” or “stomach”.
The sticky part of a one-piece bag that sticks to your abdomen. This may also be described as: “wafer”, “flange”, “base plate” or “hydrocolloid”.
The natural exit where stool leaves the body.
(External): A term used to describe a stoma appliance worn over a stoma to collect urine or stool/output.
Occurs when a pouch that is being worn fills up with wind.
The part of a two piece system that sticks to the abdomen. This may also be described as “wafer”, “flange”, “base plate” or “hydrocolloid”.
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
A drug treatment for cancer.
Inflammation of the large bowel (colon).
Large bowel, consisting of caecum, ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon.
Referring to the colon and the rectum.
An opening from the colon to the outside of the body. A colostomy provides a new path for stool to leave the body after part of the colon has been removed.
A birth defect or abnormality existing at or before birth.
Irregular and infrequent stool, usually accompanied by hard, dry stools which can be difficult to pass.
A specialist shape of wafer with an outward curve. The convex shape is most often used with a retracted or flush stoma.
An inflammatory bowel disease affecting any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus.
Loose, watery stool.
A condition where small sacks or pouches form in the wall of the large bowel.
When the small pouches or sacks mentioned above become inflamed or infected.
The sticky part of your stoma bag or base plate.
Another word for a urostomy.
An opening from the small bowel or Ileum to the outside of the body.
The final and longest segment of the small bowel.
A broad term used to describe the three conditions, Crohn’s Disease (CD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP or Gardeners Syndrome).
A loop of bowel is brought out through a surgical opening made in the abdominal wall.
Sutured join of any stoma between the bowel and the skin.
Breakdown of the suture line between the bowel and the skin securing the stoma to the abdominal surface.
A specialist doctor who is trained in diagnosing and treating cancer.
A nurse who specialises in oncology and sees patients following a cancer diagnosis.
A person who has a stoma.
A surgically created opening.
Around/behind the stoma.
The area of skin immediately surrounding the stoma.
Lowest part of the large bowel ending in the anus (bottom).
A nurse trained in the care and support of people with ileostomies, colostomies and urostomies.
A disease that causes long-term inflammation of the lining of the large bowel.
A urinary stoma.
To order our You and Your Colostomy, Ileostomy or Urostomy booklets, please contact your local Salts Healthcare Territory Manager or call Freephone 0800 028 8014 (0800 626388 in Scotland). Alternatively you can e-mail: hello@salts.co.uk
