bowel movement
Meaning of bowel movement: A bowel movement is the elimination of solid waste from the digestive tract, and its frequency, consistency, and color vary widely among healthy people.
Definition of bowel movement
A bowel movement, also called defecation, is the elimination of feces from the body through the rectum and anus. Feces are made up of undigested food residue, water, bacteria, and cells shed from the lining of the intestines, along with other waste products the body does not use.
A bowel movement occurs after remaining digestive material passes through the large intestine, where much of its water content is absorbed, and coordinated contraction of the intestinal and rectal muscles moves the resulting waste out of the body. The consistency, color, and frequency of bowel movements vary considerably among healthy people and can be influenced by diet, fluid intake, and physical activity.
Because bowel movements reflect the end result of the entire digestive process, changes in their frequency, consistency, or appearance, such as unusually loose, hard, or dark colored stool, are commonly used as a clue when evaluating conditions affecting the digestive tract.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient reported a recent change in the frequency and consistency of bowel movements.
Good to know
What counts as a normal bowel movement varies considerably between individuals, so a change from a person's own usual pattern is generally more informative than comparison to a fixed standard.