Bowel disorders affect the organs in the lower gastrointestinal tract. In this article, learn about the different types of bowel disorder, their causes and symptoms, and how to treat them. Our digestive system breaks down the food we eat, absorbs the goodness and nutrients into our blood stream, then prepares and expels the waste that the body cannot use.

Understanding the Context

A vital part of this system is the bowel, which is made up of the small and large intestines. Everyone deals with the occasional bowel problem such as diarrhea or constipation. These are unpleasant conditions that usually go away on their own after a few days, or with the help of over-the-counter medications and lifestyle modifications like dietary changes and exercise. This is your ultimate bowel diagram.

Key Insights

Learn the amazing parts of your intestinal tract and how the system works. The meaning of BOWEL is intestine, gut; also : one of the divisions of the intestines —usually used in plural except in medical use. How to use bowel in a sentence. In human anatomy, the intestine (bowel or gut; Greek: éntera) is the segment of the gastrointestinal tract extending from the pyloric sphincter of the stomach to the anus and as in other mammals, consists of two segments: the small intestine and the large intestine. A bowel obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of either of your bowels — your small intestine or your large intestine.

Final Thoughts

Your intestines move food and (eventually) food waste from your stomach to your rectum, which you pass as stool when you poop. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the stomach and intestines, also called the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include cramping, belly pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both.