Gastritis (Lat. gastritis, from other-Greek. γαστήρ (gaster) "stomach" + - itis inflammatory or inflammatory-dystrophic changes of the mucous membrane) is a collective concept used to refer to various inflammatory and dystrophic changes of the gastric mucosa in origin and course. Mucosal damage can be primary, considered as an independent disease, and secondary, caused by other infectious and non-infectious diseases or intoxication.
Depending on the intensity and duration of the action of the damaging factors, the pathological process can be acute, occurring mainly with inflammatory changes, or chronic — accompanied by structural restructuring and progressive atrophy of the mucous membrane. Accordingly, there are two main forms: acute and chronic gastritis. Alcoholic gastritis, which develops against the background of alcohol abuse, is considered separately.
The chronic form is dangerous by atrophy of the gastric mucosa. As a result, the stomach glands stop functioning normally. In place of normal cells, atypical cells are formed. Unbalancing the process of self-healing of cells is one of the causes of ulcers, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.
The stomach is the most vulnerable part of the digestive system. There are at least three complex processes of digestion, this is the primary one: the mechanical mixing of the food coma, the chemical breakdown of food, and the absorption of nutrients.
The most often damaged inner wall of the stomach-the mucous membrane, where the production of two, mutually exclusive, components of digestion – gastric juice and protective mucus.