Borborygmus: Encyclopedia - Borborygmus

Borborygmus

Borborygmus (plural borborygmi) is the rumbling sound produced by the movement of gas through the intestines.

The "rumble" or "growl" sometimes heard from the stomach is a normal part of digestion. It originates in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine as muscles contract to move food and digestive juices down the gastrointestinal tract.

Although this muscle contraction happens whether or not food is present, rumbles are more common after the organism has gone several hours without eating. This may be why many people associate a "growling" stomach with hunger.

Rumbles may also occur when there is incomplete digestion of food that can lead to excess gas in the intestine. This can be due to incomplete digestion of carbohydrate-containing foods including milk and other dairy products (lactose intolerance), fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes and high-fiber whole grains. In rare instances excessive abdominal noise may be a sign of digestive disease, especially when accompanied by abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation.

Some people find rumbling embarrassing, and opt to eat small snacks periodically to be sure their stomach is never completely empty. However, there is no foolproof way for a person to keep their stomach quiet.

Categories: Digestive system | Sign (medicine)

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Borborygmus", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki