Definition

Noun: A medical condition characterized by the absence (either partial or complete) of gastric juices, particularly hydrochloric acid and pepsin, in the stomach. This condition impairs normal digestion.

Usage

This is a specific, formal medical term. It is used in clinical, diagnostic, and academic contexts to describe a physiological state of the stomach.

Examples

• The patient's persistent indigestion and fatigue were eventually diagnosed as achylia gastrica.
• Achylia gastrica can lead to malabsorption of nutrients like vitamin B12 and iron.
• The biopsy results confirmed the presence of achylia gastrica.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often associated with more general conditions like atrophic gastritis or pernicious anemia, where the stomach lining is damaged and fails to produce acid and intrinsic factor.
• It may be described as complete achylia or partial achylia depending on the severity of the deficiency.

Variants and Related Words

• Achlorhydria (n): A closely related condition specifically referring to the absence of hydrochloric acid in the gastric secretions. While often used interchangeably with , can sometimes imply a less total absence of all gastric juices.
• Hypochlorhydria (n): The medical term for low stomach acid, as opposed to a complete absence.
• Gastric achylia (n): An alternative phrasing with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• Gastric juice deficiency (a descriptive, non-technical synonym)
• Achlorhydria (see note in Variants)

Antonyms

• Hyperchlorhydria (n): Excessive secretion of gastric acid.
• Normochlorhydria (n): The normal, healthy secretion of gastric acid.

Noun

1. absence of gastric juices (partial or complete)