Medical Glossary

Terms starting with G

ALTGPT: GPT is an enzyme found mainly in the liver cells. An elevated level in the blood indicates a strain on or damage to the liver; the abbreviation used today is ALT.
AnticoagulantGerinnungshemmer: Anticoagulants are medications that slow down blood clotting and thus prevent the formation of blood clots. They are used, for example, to protect against thrombosis or strokes.
ArthroscopyGelenkspiegelung: During an arthroscopy, a camera is inserted into a joint through small skin incisions in order to assess it from the inside. Minor procedures can often also be carried out during the same session.
ASTGOT: GOT is an enzyme found mainly in liver, heart and muscle cells. An elevated level in the blood can indicate damage to these organs; today it is usually referred to as AST.
Basal metabolic rateGrundumsatz: The basal metabolic rate is the amount of energy the body needs at complete rest to maintain its vital functions. These include breathing, heartbeat and body temperature.
benigngutartig: «Benign» describes a tissue change or a tumour that grows slowly, does not invade neighbouring tissue and does not form secondary deposits. The opposite is «malignant».
BrainGehirn: The brain is the body's central control organ and part of the nervous system. It processes sensory impressions, controls movement and is the seat of thinking, emotions and memory.
CataractGrauer Star: In a cataract, the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, so that vision becomes increasingly blurred. It usually occurs in older age and can be treated surgically with an artificial lens.
CervixGebärmutterhals: The cervix is the lower, narrowed part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. It is examined for cell changes during gynaecological screening.
Cleft palateGaumenspalte: A cleft palate is a congenital malformation in which the palate does not fuse completely during development in the womb. It often occurs together with a cleft lip and is treated surgically.
CoagulationGerinnung: Coagulation is the process by which the body stops bleeding, with the blood clotting at the injured site. Platelets and a series of clotting factors are involved in this process.
ConcussionGehirnerschütterung: A concussion is a mild form of head injury, usually following a fall or a blow. Typical signs are brief unconsciousness, headache, nausea or a short gap in memory.
Ear canalGehörgang: The ear canal is the passage leading from the outer ear to the eardrum. It conducts sound into the interior of the ear and is lined with fine hairs and glands that produce earwax.
Gait analysisGanganalyse: Gait analysis is an examination in which a person's walking is closely observed and measured. It helps to identify disturbances in movement patterns and to adapt treatments or assistive devices.
GallbladderGallenblase: The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped hollow organ located beneath the liver. It stores the bile produced by the liver and releases it into the intestine when fat is being digested.
GallstoneGallenstein: A gallstone is a solid deposit that forms in the gallbladder or the bile ducts. Small stones often go unnoticed, but larger ones can cause severe pain (biliary colic), inflammation or a build-up of bile.
Gamma-GT: Gamma-GT is an enzyme found mainly in the liver and bile ducts. An elevated blood level can indicate a disease of the liver or bile ducts, as well as regular alcohol consumption.
Ganglion: A ganglion is a benign, fluid-filled swelling that usually occurs on tendon sheaths or joints, frequently at the wrist. In everyday language it is also called a ganglion cyst.
GangreneGangrän: Gangrene refers to the death of body tissue, usually as a result of severely impaired blood flow or a serious infection. The affected tissue turns dark in colour and requires medical treatment.
GastrectomyGastrektomie: A gastrectomy is the surgical removal of the stomach, either completely or in part. It is used, for example, in the case of malignant stomach tumours.
Gastritis: Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. It can be triggered by bacteria, medication, alcohol or stress and often causes upper abdominal pain, nausea or a feeling of fullness.
Gastroenteritis: Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestine, often caused by viruses or bacteria. Typical symptoms are diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
GastroenterologyGastroenterologie: Gastroenterology is the medical speciality that deals with diseases of the digestive tract. This includes the oesophagus, stomach, intestine, liver, bile ducts and pancreas.
Gastroesophageal reflux diseaseGastroösophageale Refluxkrankheit: In gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the oesophagus and irritates its mucous membrane. Typical symptoms are heartburn and acid regurgitation.
GastroscopyGastroskopie: During a gastroscopy (examination of the stomach with an endoscope), the doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube with a camera through the mouth into the oesophagus and stomach in order to assess the lining and, if necessary, take samples.
generalizedgeneralisiert: In medicine, the term «generalised» describes a condition that spreads to the whole body or to an entire organ system. The opposite is «localised», meaning confined to a limited area.
Generic drugsGenerika: A generic is a copy of a medicine whose patent protection has expired. It contains the same active ingredient in the same amount as the original product, but is usually less expensive.
GenomeGenom: The genome is the entirety of an organism's genetic information, stored in the DNA. It contains all the blueprints according to which the body is built and functions.
GeriatricsGeriatrie: Geriatrics is the medical speciality that deals with the diseases and treatment of older people. The focus is often on several simultaneous illnesses and on maintaining independence.
Gestational diabetesGestationsdiabetes: Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that appears for the first time during pregnancy. It is detected through screening examinations and usually resolves again after the birth.
GestosisGestose: Gestosis refers to conditions that occur only during pregnancy. These include, among others, pregnancy-related high blood pressure with the excretion of protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia).
Gingivitis: Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, usually triggered by bacterial plaque. The gums are reddened, swollen and bleed easily, for example when brushing the teeth.
GlaucomaGlaukom: Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, often as a result of raised pressure inside the eye. If left untreated, it can narrow the field of vision and eventually lead to blindness.
GliomaGliom: A glioma is a tumour that arises from the supporting tissue of the brain or spinal cord. Gliomas can be benign or malignant and range from slow-growing to rapidly growing.
Glomerulonephritis: Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the small filtering bodies of the kidney. It can impair kidney function and shows itself, among other things, through blood or protein in the urine as well as fluid retention.
Glomerulus: A glomerulus is a tiny tangle of very fine blood vessels in the kidney. This is where the filtering of the blood begins, from which urine is ultimately formed.
GlucocorticoidGlukokortikoid: Glucocorticoids are hormones produced by the adrenal cortex that affect metabolism and inflammation. As a medication, commonly known as cortisone, they are used to dampen inflammation and immune reactions.
GlucoseGlukose: Glucose is a simple sugar and the most important source of energy for the body's cells. Its level in the blood is measured as blood sugar, and its regulation is controlled above all by the hormone insulin.
Glucose tolerance testGlukosetoleranztest: The glucose tolerance test measures how well the body processes a certain amount of sugar. It is used to detect diabetes or gestational diabetes.
Gluten: Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in cereals such as wheat, rye and barley. In people with coeliac disease it triggers damage to the lining of the small intestine.
GonadsGonaden: Gonads is the term for the reproductive glands, that is, the ovaries in women and the testicles in men. They produce the germ cells and the sex hormones.
GonarthrosisGonarthrose: Gonarthrosis is wear and tear of the knee joint, in which the protective joint cartilage becomes worn down. It causes pain, stiffness and increasingly restricted mobility of the knee.
GonorrheaGonorrhoe: Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria. It mainly affects the mucous membranes of the urinary and genital organs and often causes discharge and a burning sensation when passing water.
GoutGicht: Gout is a metabolic disorder in which uric acid crystals are deposited in the joints. This triggers sudden, very painful joint inflammations, frequently first affecting the joint at the base of the big toe.
Greenstick fractureGrünholzfraktur: A greenstick fracture is an incomplete break in which the bone is only bent and the periosteum (bone covering) remains partly intact. It occurs mainly in children, whose bones are still elastic.
GynecologyGynäkologie: Gynaecology is the medical speciality concerned with the health of the female reproductive organs. It covers preventive care, diagnosis and treatment, and often also obstetrics.
InfluenzaGrippe: Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Typical signs are a sudden high fever, aching limbs, coughing and a marked feeling of illness.
JaundiceGelbsucht: Jaundice refers to the yellowing of the skin and the white of the eyes caused by an increased level of the bile pigment bilirubin in the blood. It is a sign of diseases of the liver or bile ducts, or of an increased breakdown of red blood cells.
JointGelenk: A joint is the movable connection between two or more bones. Cartilage, joint fluid and ligaments allow the bones to move against each other with little friction.
Joint effusionGelenkerguss: A joint effusion is an excessive accumulation of fluid in a joint. It arises with inflammation, injury or irritation and shows itself through swelling and restricted movement.
LimbGliedmasse: The term limb refers to the arms and legs of the body. The medical term for this is extremity.
Memory disorderGedächtnisstörung: A memory disorder is an impairment of the ability to store or retrieve information. It may be temporary or may point to conditions such as dementia.
ObstetricsGeburtshilfe: Obstetrics is the field of medicine that covers care during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. It works closely with gynaecology and with midwives.
OssiclesGehörknöchelchen: The auditory ossicles are three tiny bones in the middle ear – hammer, anvil, and stirrup. They transmit the vibrations of the eardrum to the inner ear, amplifying them in the process.
PalateGaumen: The palate forms the roof of the oral cavity and separates the mouth from the nasal cavity. A distinction is made between the front hard palate, made of bone, and the rear soft palate, made of muscle and mucous membrane.
Palatine tonsilsGaumenmandeln: The tonsils are two collections of lymphatic tissue at the sides of the back of the throat. They form part of the body's defences and can become inflamed (tonsillitis), especially in children.
ProgestogenGestagen: Progestogens are female sex hormones, including the body's own progesterone. They prepare the womb for pregnancy and are a component of many hormonal contraceptives.
RecoveryGenesung: Recovery refers to the process of recuperating from an illness or injury until health is restored. The time needed for this is also called convalescence.
Sense of tasteGeschmackssinn: The sense of taste allows sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savoury (umami) to be perceived via the sensory cells of the tongue. Together with the sense of smell, it determines how we experience food.
ShinglesGürtelrose: Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which remains in the body after an earlier infection. It appears as a painful, often belt-shaped skin rash with blisters, usually on one side of the body.
TonsillitisGaumenmandelentzündung: Tonsillitis is an acute inflammation of the tonsils, usually caused by viruses or bacteria. It manifests itself through a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and fever.
UlcerGeschwür: An ulcer is a deep, poorly healing defect of the skin or mucous membrane that extends into deeper layers of tissue. Well-known examples include stomach ulcers or ulcers on the lower leg.
UterusGebärmutter: The uterus is a muscular hollow organ in the female pelvis, in which the child develops during pregnancy. Its lining is shed and rebuilt with every menstruation.
UvulaGaumenzäpfchen: The uvula is the small, hanging projection at the rear edge of the soft palate. It is involved in swallowing and in the formation of certain speech sounds.
Vitreous bodyGlaskörper: The vitreous body is the transparent, jelly-like mass that fills most of the inside of the eye. It gives the eyeball its shape and allows light to pass through to the retina.
Vitreous opacityGlaskörpertrübung: With a vitreous opacity, you perceive small moving dots or threads in your field of vision. They are caused by condensations in the vitreous body of the eye and are usually harmless.
Whole-body CTGanzkörper-CT: A whole-body CT is a computed tomography scan that shows the entire trunk in cross-sectional images within a short time. It is used above all in emergency medicine in order to detect serious injuries quickly.
Yellow feverGelbfieber: Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that occurs mainly in tropical regions of Africa and South America. It can range from fever and jaundice to severe courses of illness; a protective vaccination is available.