Abdomen

Part of the body between the chest and hips

Analgesics

Drugs, such as opioids, that are more commonly known as painkillers

Bowel movement

The final act of digestion, when feces (stools) exit the body

Cathartic

Medicine that accelerates bowel movements

Constipation

Reduced frequency of bowel movements, hardening of stool, or difficulty in passing feces

Defecation

Another term for bowel movement

Enema

Introducing of liquids into the rectum and colon via the anus

Fecal impaction

Bowel obstruction due to solid, immobile stool

Feces

Also called stools, waste food that is released from the body through the anus as the final part of digestion

Fiber

Part of plant food that is indigestible and helps food to pass through our digestive system

Gastric

Having to do with the stomach

Gastrointestinal

Having to do with the stomach and intestines

Laxatives

Foods, compounds, or medicines that induce bowel movements or loosen stool

Motility

Ability to move spontaneously and actively, such as healthy bowel movements

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC)

Constipation that is caused by opioid painkilling medicines

Opioids

Pain relievers such as morphine and codeine

Palliative care

Improving quality of life for patients and families who face life-threatening illness by preventing and relieving suffering through identification, assessment, and treatment of pain and other problems using physical, psychosocial, and spiritual means

Stools

Also called feces, waste food that is released from the body through the anus as the final part of digestion

Suppository

A drug delivery system utilizing a bullet shaped solid that is inserted into the rectum