Article
Article
Ulcer
Article By:
Rubin, Emanuel Department of Pathology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Last reviewed:July 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.718800
- Peptic ulcer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Other types of ulcers
- Related Primary Literature
- Additional Reading
A lesion or sore on the surface of the skin or a mucous membrane characterized by a superficial loss of tissue. Ulcers are most common on the skin of the lower extremities and in the gastrointestinal tract (see illustration), although they may be encountered at almost any tissue site. The diverse causes of ulcers range from circulatory disturbances or bacterial infections to complex, multifactorial disorders. The superficial tissue sloughs, leaving a crater that extends into the underlying soft tissue, which then becomes inflamed and is subject to further injury by the original offender or secondary infection. See also: Gastrointestinal tract disorders; Infection; Inflammation; Skin disorders
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