Useful words glossary

You have a right to understand and take part in decisions about your or your loved one’s care. But medical words can be complicated. If someone uses words you do not understand, ask them to explain.

You could also ask them to write down any important or tricky words to make them easier to remember.

Here are some common words you may find in our information or hear from medical professionals.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Acute – a short illness.

Acute illness comes on suddenly and can be severe.

AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein) – a tumour marker.

Adults don’t usually have much AFP in their blood. High levels of AFP may be a warning sign for liver cancer.

Albumin – one of the main proteins in the blood.

Albumin is made by the liver, then gets added to the blood. If the liver is damaged there may be less albumin in the blood.

Allele – a different version of a gene.

ALP (Alkaline phosphatase or ALK-PHOS) – an enzyme in the blood.

ALP is one of the things measured in a liver blood test. Too much ALP in the blood can be a sign of liver disease, especially diseases related to the bile ducts.

ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) – a liver enzyme.

If the liver cells become damaged or die, ALT can leak out of the liver and into the blood. The amount of ALT in the blood is one of the things measured in a liver blood test.

Anaemia – a lack of iron in the blood.

Anaemia can lead to someone having fewer red blood cells than usual.

Anastomosis – a connection made surgically between two tubes.

Angiogram – a scan using X-rays to see blood vessels.

Antibody – a protein produced by the immune system to defend against a specific disease.

Antigen – anything that causes the immune system to make antibodies.

For example, some antigens are small structures on the outside of a virus. The immune system can make antibodies that will stick to these antigens and help to kill the virus.

Ascites – a build-up of fluid in the tummy.

Ascites causes the tummy to become swollen and can be painful.

AST (Aspartate aminotransferase) – a liver enzyme.

If the liver cells become damaged or die, AST can leak out of the liver and into the blood. The amount of AST in the blood is one of the things measured in a liver blood test.

Asymptomatic – when someone has an illness or condition but they do not have any signs or symptoms of having it.

Atresia – a medical word meaning blocked, destroyed, or missing.

Autoantibodies – antibodies that attack someone’s own body.

Autoimmune – a type of disease where the immune system attacks and damages part of someone’s own body.

Auxiliary liver transplant – where part of a donor liver is placed alongside the patient’s own liver.

B

Banding – a treatment for varices.

Elastic bands are placed around the varices during an endoscopy.

Bile – a green/yellow liquid that helps digest fat.

The liver makes bile and stores it in the gallbladder. Bile contains bile salts, bilirubin and cholesterol. It helps to digest fats and take in some vitamins.

Biliary – anything to do with bile or the bile ducts.

Biliary tract – the tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder into the intestine.

Bilirubin – a yellow substance that can cause jaundice.

Bilirubin is a natural waste product caused by the breakdown of old red blood cells. The liver helps to get rid of bilirubin. If the liver isn’t working properly, bilirubin can build up and cause jaundice.

Biopsy – a medical procedure to take a small sample of tissue.

In a liver biopsy a small sample is taken from the liver. The sample is then looked at under a microscope to help diagnose or keep track of an illness.

Body Mass Index (BMI) – a way to estimate if someone is a healthy weight.

BMI is calculated using someone’s height and weight.

C

Cancer – a condition where specific cells in the body grow and reproduce in an uncontrolled way.

Cancer cells can harm nearby healthy cells and can spread to other parts of the body.

Cannula – a short, soft, narrow plastic tube put into a vein.

A cannula is used so medicines/fluids/blood etc. can be given into a vein (intravenously or IV).

Carrier – a person who has a gene that can lead to a genetic condition but does not have the condition themselves.

A carrier could pass the gene on when they have a child, but the child will not always get the condition.

Central venous line (CVL) – a tube used to take blood samples or deliver medicine, fluid or nutrition.

A central line is a long, narrow plastic tube. It can be placed into a vein in the neck, chest or groin. It is usually inserted under a general anaesthetic.

Cholangiocarcinoma – cancer of the bile ducts.

Cholangitis – inflammation of the bile ducts.

Can cause problems with bile flow from the liver.

Cholestasis – a condition where the flow of bile is reduced.

This may be because the liver is making less bile. Or because there is a blockage in the bile duct that is stopping the bile getting out.

Chromosome – a structure that carries DNA.

Chronic – a long illness.

Chronic illness lasts at least six months and might be lifelong.

Chronic hepatitis – inflammation of the liver over a period of time.

Cirrhosis – a stage of liver disease.

A liver with cirrhosis has serious permanent scarring. It might not be able to work properly. Cirrhosis can be caused by many different types of liver condition.

Co-infection – Having more than one infection at the same time.

Some people will have two or more different infections at the same time. These can be viruses, bacteria, parasites or a mixture of any of these. For example, people with hepatitis B may also have a hepatitis D infection.

Coagulopathy – refers to any condition where the blood cannot clot properly.

Compensated cirrhosis – a stage of liver disease where the liver is damaged, but able to carry on working.

Computerised tomography scan (CT scan) – a scan that uses x-rays to create a detailed picture of inside the body.

Congenital – a condition which is present from birth.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) – a virus belonging to the herpes virus group.

D

Decompensated cirrhosis – a stage of liver disease where the liver cannot work properly.

People with decompensated liver disease are often very unwell. They have serious symptoms and complications.

Distension – medical word meaning expansion or enlargement.

Duct – medical word meaning a tube which fluid can pass through. For example, bile ducts.

Dysplasia – medical word meaning the abnormal development of body tissue or an organ.

E

ECG (Electrocardiogram) – a test that checks heart rhythm.

Encephalopathy – changes in the brain that can effect how it works.

End stage liver disease – another name for decompensated cirrhosis.

Decompensated cirrhosis is sometimes called end stage liver disease. This is because it happens after the other stages of the disease.

Endoscopy – a test used to look inside the body.

During an endoscopy, a thin, flexible tube with a camera goes into the body through the mouth or another natural opening.

Enteral feeding – feeding through a tube.

The nutrition goes directly into the stomach or part of the intestine.

Enzyme – a substance made by the body to help it with different tasks.

Some enzymes help to digest food or to speed up chemical reactions.

ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) – a type of endoscopy.

ERCP is used to look at the pancreatic and bile ducts. And to remove gallstones that have got stuck in the bile duct.

F

Faeces – the medical word for stool or poo.

Fatigue – extreme tiredness.

Fatigue can be caused by medical conditions or treatments. It does not get better if someone rests.

Fatty liver – A liver with a build-up of fat.

This might refer to the condition MASLD. The medical word for a build-up of fat is “steatotic”.

FibroScan – a brand name for a scanning device used in transient elastography.

Fibrosis – a build-up of scar tissue.

The liver can repair itself from harm, but if there is a lot of damage this repair process leaves behind scars. Liver fibrosis happens when these scars build up in the liver. A liver with fibrosis can carry on working well and can heal itself if there is no more damage. But if damage continues then fibrosis can lead to cirrhosis.

Full blood count (FBC) – a blood test measuring all the different types of cells in the blood.

Fulminant – a sudden and very severe illness.

G

Gallbladder – a small sac which stores and releases bile.

Gallstones – the stones which can form in the gallbladder.

Gallstones can sometimes get stuck in bile ducts and cause pain.

Gastroenterologist – a doctor who specializes in problems with the digestive system.

Gastroenterology – study of the digestive system.

General anaesthetic – a pain relief option where the person is fully asleep.

Genes – the body’s instructions.

Genes are made up of DNA and are passed on from parents to children.

Gene penetrance – the difference between the number of people with the genes for a condition and the number who have the condition.

Genetic condition – any medical condition caused by a problem with someone’s genes.

GGT (Gammaglutamyltransferase) – An enzyme in the blood.

GGT is one of the things measured in a liver blood test. Too much GGT in the blood can be a sign of liver disease, especially related to the bile ducts. You may see this written with the Greek letter Y like this Y-glutamyltransferase.

Glycogen – a form of sugar stored in the liver and muscles.

The body can change carbohydrates from food into glycogen. It stores this glycogen in the liver for when extra energy is needed.

Graft – an organ, tissue or cells used for transplantation.

H

Haematemesis – vomiting blood.

Haemoglobin – part of a red blood cell which carries oxygen around the body.

HAV – an abbreviation of Hepatitis A virus.

HBV – an abbreviation of Hepatitis B virus

HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) – one of the main types of liver cancer. Sometimes called hepatoma.

HCV – an abbreviation of Hepatitis C virus.

HDV – an abbreviation of Hepatitis D virus.

HE (Hepatic encephalopathy) – changes in the brain caused by liver disease.

Hepatic encephalopathy happens when the liver cannot get rid of toxins and they enter the brain. HE symptoms can come and go. It can become serious if not treated.

Hepatic – anything to do with the liver.

Hepatic artery – the artery that takes blood to the liver.

The hepatic artery is a tube that takes blood and oxygen from the heart to the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, stomach, and part of the intestine.

Hepatic vein – the blood vessel which takes blood away from the liver.

Hepatitis – Inflammation of the liver.

The word hepatitis is used to describe inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is often associated with liver disease caused by viruses. But many types of liver disease can cause hepatitis.

Hepatocyte – a liver cell.

Hepatologist – a doctor who works with people who have liver disease.

Hepatology – study of the liver.

Hepatomegaly – an enlarged, often painful liver.

HEV – an abbreviation of Hepatitis E virus.

Hypotension – low blood pressure.

Hypertension – high blood pressure.

I

Idiopathic – something which doesn’t have a known cause.

Immune system – the body’s defences against illness and infection.

Immunity – protection against a particular disease.

This can happen naturally or due to vaccination.

Immunoglobulin – an antibody.

A protein which plays a role in the immune system.

Immunosuppression – a reduction in how well the immune system works.

Can be caused by a medical condition or by some medical treatments.

Immunosuppresant – a medicine which reduces the strength of the immune system.

Incidence – how common something is.

For example, the number of new cases of a disease, over a certain period of time.

Inflammation – the body’s first response to something that could harm it.

Inflammation happens when the immune system starts to respond to an infection or injury. Inflammation often causes heat, swelling and pain. Some medical conditions can cause long term inflammation.

Inherited condition – a medical condition that is passed on in families.

Inherited conditions are caused by a problem with a gene. They are a type of genetic condition.

INR (International normalised ratio) – a measure of how well blood clots.

Intravenous – medical word meaning into a vein.

Some drugs are delivered straight into the veins.

J

Jaundice – a condition where the skin or eyes turn yellow.

The liver helps to get rid of a yellow substance called bilirubin. If the liver is damaged, or the bile ducts are blocked, bilirubin can build up and cause jaundice. The yellow colouring of jaundice can be harder to see on black or brown skin.

K

Kasai portoenterostomy – an operation to get bile flowing from the liver to the intestine.

The Kasai procedure is used to treat biliary atresia. Bile ducts are removed and a piece of intestine is used to replace the ducts.

L

LFT (Liver function test) – an old name for liver blood tests.

Liver blood tests – a group of blood tests that check for signs of damage to the liver.

This is one of the first tests doctors ask for if they want to check on the liver. Liver blood tests are also used to keep track of how the liver is doing over time.

M

Malabsorption – when the body doesn’t absorb nutrients properly.

MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) – a liver condition caused by a build-up of fat in the liver.

MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) – a serious stage of fatty liver disease.

MASH is a stage of MASLD. MASH happens when the amount of fat in the liver causes damage and inflammation.

MDT (Multidisciplinary team) – a team of healthcare professionals.

An MDT brings together the different healthcare professionals involved in someone’s care. The team might include doctors, nurses, a dietitian, a social worker, a psychiatrist, and others.

Metabolic disorder – any condition in which metabolism is affected.

Metabolism – the chemical processes involved in getting and using energy from food.

MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging scan) – imaging test to get a detailed image inside the body.

An MRI scanner is like a short tunnel with a hole at each end. It uses magnets and radio waves.

N

NAFLD (Non-alcohol related fatty liver disease) – the old name for a type of liver disease now called MASLD.

MASLD is a liver condition caused by a build-up of fat in the liver.

NASH (Non-alcohol related steatohepatitis) – the old name for MASH.

MASH is a serious stage of MASLD. MASH happens when the amount of fat in the liver causes damage and inflammation.

Nasogastric (NG) feeding – giving food into the stomach through a tube in the nose.

Nasogastric tube – the tube used during nasogastric feeding.

Nasojejunal (NJ) tube – a small tube used to give nutrition straight to the intestine.

The tube is passed up the nose and down the throat, through the stomach, and into the small intestine.

O

Oedema – swelling caused by a build-up of fluid.

Oedema causes swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.

Oesophagus – the tube that takes food and drink from the mouth to the stomach.

Oncologist – a doctor who works with people who have cancer.

Orthotopic liver transplant – an operation where someone’s liver is removed and replaced with a liver from a donor.

P

Parenteral nutrition (PN) – feeding nutrients directly into a vein.

PCR test (Polymerase chain reaction) – a test to check if a particular virus is in the body.

A positive result means the virus is present at the time of the test.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) – a special x-ray which looks at the bile ducts.

It is done under a general anaesthetic. A needle is inserted through the skin of the abdomen into the bile ducts. It can be used to diagnose and treat a variety of bile duct issues.

Phlebotomist – a person who takes blood samples.

Platelets – part of the blood.

Platelets are important for clotting the blood. They can be low in people with liver disease.

Portal hypertension – high blood pressure in the portal vein.

Portal hypertension can be caused by scarring of the liver or a blockage of the portal vein.

Portal vein – a tube that carries blood from the stomach to the liver.

The portal vein takes blood containing nutrients and toxins from food into the liver.

Pruritus – a medical word for itching.

Pulmonary – something relating to the lungs.

R

Renal – something relating to the kidneys.

Rejection – when the body’s immune system attacks a transplanted organ.

Resection – a type of surgery.

A resection removes part of an organ, such as the liver, if it is damaged.

S

Sclerotherapy – a treatment where a chemical solution is injected.

The solution is injected to treat a swollen vein or cyst and to help stop it forming again.

Screening – testing a population of people for a condition or the genes for a condition.

Seroconversion – The development of detectable antibodies after an infection or vaccination.

When the immune system spots a new infection or vaccination, it will begin to make antibodies. Seroconversion is the development of enough antibodies for them to be found by a blood test.

Spider Naevi – small, broken veins under the skin which can look like red spiders.

Spleen – an organ which removes old blood cells.

Its blood supply is connected to the liver.

Splenomegaly – an enlarged spleen.

Split bilirubin test – a blood test which measures how much conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin is in the blood.

Conjugated bilirubin has a sugar attached to it. Unconjugated bilirubin does not.

Stent – a small tube used in surgery.

A stent is a thin wire-mesh or plastic tube. It can be used if the bile duct is blocked, for example by gallstones. A surgeon will put the stent in the bile duct to hold the duct open so that other stones do not get stuck.

Steroids – medication which reduces the activity of the body’s immune system.

T

Transient elastography (TE) – a type of scan.

Transient elastography tests how stiff the liver is. This is a sign of how much damage and scarring there is. Transient elastography is sometimes called a FibroScan.

Thrombosis – a blood clot in a vein or artery.

TPR – an abbreviation for temperature, pulse and respiration.

Triglycerides – a type of fat.

TTA and TTO – ‘to take away’ or ‘to take out’

Used when talking about medicines which are taken home.

Tumour markers – substances found in the blood, which might indicate a tumour (cancer).