UniFiber® Glossary of Constipation/Other Related Terms |
|
The colon is the part of the large intestine between the cecum to the rectum. Its primary purpose is to extract water from feces. |
|
Constipation or irregularity, is a condition of the digestive system where a person (or animal) experiences hard feces that are difficult to eliminate. |
|
A type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD occurs when the immune system contributes to damage of the gastrointestinal tract by causing inflammation. The main gastrointestinal symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea. |
|
Pertaining to the gut, the system of organs that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste. |
|
Arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. |
|
Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the digestive system, absorbing water. Insoluble fiber possesses passive water-attracting properties that help to increase bulk, soften stool and shorten transit time. Some examples of insoluble fiber include vegetables such as green beans and dark green leafy vegetables, fruit skins and root vegetable skins, whole-wheat products, wheat, oat, corn, bran, seeds and nuts. |
|
A functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Routine clinical testing does not show any abnormalities. It makes up 20-50% of visits to gastroenterologists. |
|
Agents taken to treat constipation |
|
A plastic tube (nasogastric tube, NG tube) that is inserted through the nose, past the throat, and down into the stomach. |
|
Psyllium is a soluble fiber that comes from a plant most commonly grown in India. It is broken down in the large bowel and becomes a food source for the bacteria that live in the colon. These healthy bacteria bulk up the stool, creating larger softer stool which is easier to pass. |
|
The final straight portion of the large intestine terminating in the anus. |
|
A neurotransmitter found mostly in the digestive tract. |
|
Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the digestive system, absorbing water. Soluble fiber undergoes active metabolic processing via fermentation, yielding end-products with broad, significant health effects. Some examples of soluble fibers include oats, oat bran, fruit pectin, beans, and guar gum. |
|
Waste product from an animal's digestive system tract expelled through the anus during defecation. |
|
A form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associated with ulcers or open sores in the colon. The main symptom of active disease is diarrhea mixed with blood. |
| |
