An open sore or lesion of the skin or mucous membrane
accompanied by sloughing of the inflamed necrotic tissue. (See
SORES Simple ulcers may result from trauma, caustics, intense
heat or cold, or arterial or venous stasis. They may occur as a
complication of varicose veins due to stasis of blood leading to
inflammation, necrosis, and sloughing of tissue. Ulcers of the
mucous membrane of the stomach or duodenum (small intestine) are
caused by the effect of gastric acid and pepsin. Introduced
recently is the idea that gastric or peptic ulcers are caused by
bacteria, treated by antibiotics. The sores of acquired syphilis
are caused by blockage of small vessels. The secretion from
these sores contains the causative agent Treponema pallidum.
Amputating ulcer, destroys tissue to the bone by encircling the
part. Also, ulcers may appear as bed sores. An ulcer results,
when, during stress, the body's defense of the lining of the
stomach is damaged and the stomach cannot secrete sufficient
mucus to protect it against t