An unpleasant sensation caused by gastrointestinal irritation is known as what?

The term that describes an unpleasant sensation caused by gastrointestinal irritation is nausea. This sensation is often experienced as a feeling of unease in the stomach, which can be accompanied by an urge to vomit. Nausea can arise from various factors, including gastrointestinal distress, certain medications, emotional stress, or infections. It serves as a protective mechanism, alerting the body to potential harm or irritation in the digestive system.

In this context, the other options refer to different phenomena: vomiting is the act of expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth, while retching is the act of attempting to vomit without expelling any contents. Anorexia, on the other hand, refers to a lack of appetite or desire to eat, which can occur due to various reasons, including nausea itself, but is not synonymous with the unpleasant sensation of nausea.