Stomach rumble

Stomach rumble
Other namesborborygmus
A doctor listening to a patient's bowel sounds using a stethoscope applied to the patient's abdomen
SpecialtyGastroenterology

A stomach rumble, also known as a bowel sound, peristaltic sound, abdominal sound, bubble gut or borborygmus (pronounced /ˌbɔːrbəˈrɪɡməs/; plural borborygmi), is a rumbling, growling or gurgling noise produced by movement of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract as they are propelled through the small intestine by a series of muscle contractions called peristalsis.[1] A trained healthcare provider can listen to these intestinal noises with a stethoscope, but they may be audible enough to be heard with the naked ear as the fluid and gas move forward in the intestines (in the vicinity of, but not actually within the stomach). The lack of bowel sounds is indicative of ileus, intestinal obstruction, or some other serious pathology.

  1. ^ Toothman, Jessika (30 April 2008). "Causes of Stomach Growling". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved 7 February 2012.