Tag Archives: Glossary.

The ability to control the timing of urination or a bowel movement.

A condition in which a person usually has fewer than three bowel movements in a week. The bowel movements may be painful.

An x ray that produces pictures of the body. Also called a computed axial tomography (CAT) scan or computed tomography (CT) scan.

The tube that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine.

An operation that attaches the colon to an opening in the abdomen called a stoma. An ostomy pouch, attached to the stoma and worn outside the body, collects stool. A temporary colostomy may be created to allow the rectum to ...

Cancer that starts in the colon (also called the large intestine) or the rectum (the end of the large intestine). Several digestive diseases may increase a person

Small, fleshy, mushroom-shaped growths in the colon.

A test to look into the rectum and colon that uses a long, flexible, narrow tube with a light and tiny camera on the end. The tube is called a colonoscope.

A condition of the colon when the muscles do not work properly, causing constipation.

Cells that form the surface lining of the large intestine.

The part of the large intestine extending from the cecum to, but not including, the rectum.

A type of colitis having an abnormal band of collagen, which is a threadlike protein.

A strong, fibrous, insoluble protein in connective tissue, including skin, deep fascia, tendons, ligaments and bone.

Irritation of the colon.

Attacks of abdominal pain. Infant colic refers to extended crying of unknown cause in infants.