Irritable Bowel Syndrome Health Article

KEY TERMS

Anus—The opening at the end of the intestine through which solid waste (stool) passes as it leaves the body.

Barium enema—An x ray of the bowel using a liquid called barium to enhance the image of the bowel. This test is also called a lower GI (gastrointestinal) series.

Colonoscopy—An examination of the lining of the colon performed with a colonoscope.

Constipation—Difficult bowel movements caused by the infrequent production of hard stools.

Crohn's disease—A chronic, inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect other parts of the digestive system as well.

Defecation—The act of having a bowel movement or the passage of feces through the anus.

Diarrhea—A loose, watery stool.

Endoscopy—Visual examination of an organ or body cavity using an endoscope, a thin, tubular instrument containing a camera and light source. Many endoscopes also allow the retrieval of a small sample (biopsy) of the area being examined, in order to more closely view the tissue under a microscope.

Feces—The solid waste, also called stool, that is left after food is digested. Feces form in the intestines and pass out of the body through the anus.

Gastroenterologist—A physician who specializes in diseases of the digestive system.

Hydrogen breath test—A test used to determine if a person is lactose intolerant or if abnormal bacteria are present in the colon.

Lactose—A sugar found in milk and milk products.

Peristalsis—Slow, rhythmic contractions of the muscles in a tubular organ, such as the intestines, that move the contents along.

Sigmoidoscopy—A procedure in which a thin, flexible, lighted instrument, called a sigmoidoscope, is used to visually examine the lower part of the large intestine. Colonoscopy examines the entire large intestine using the same techniques.

Ulcerative colitis—A form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation of the mucous lining of the colon, ulcerated areas of tissue, and bloody diarrhea.