Medical Term for Vomiting
The medical term for vomiting is "emesis." 1
Clinical Terminology
Emesis is the universally accepted medical term used to describe the act of vomiting across all clinical contexts, including chemotherapy-induced, radiation-induced, and other etiologies 1
The term appears consistently throughout medical literature and clinical guidelines, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) antiemesis guidelines and American College of Radiology appropriateness criteria 1, 2
Related Clinical Distinctions
While "emesis" is the primary medical term, clinicians should understand important related terminology:
Regurgitation refers to the passive return of gastric contents, which is clinically distinct from true vomiting/emesis, particularly in infants where this differentiation can be challenging 3
Bilious emesis specifically describes vomiting containing bile, suggesting obstruction distal to the ampulla of Vater 3
Nonbilious emesis indicates vomiting without bile content, often associated with gastroesophageal reflux or more proximal pathology 3
Clinical Context Classifications
The medical literature further categorizes emesis by timing and mechanism:
Acute emesis: occurs within minutes to hours after a triggering event (such as chemotherapy administration) 1
Delayed emesis: develops more than 24 hours after the triggering event 1
Anticipatory emesis: occurs before treatment as a conditioned response 1
Breakthrough emesis: vomiting that occurs despite prophylactic antiemetic treatment 1
Refractory emesis: vomiting that persists when antiemetic prophylaxis has failed in previous treatment cycles 1