Useless fact
What is the medical term for stomach growling?
The medical term for the rumbling sound of gas moving through the intestines is borborygmus.
The word borborygmus has its origins in ancient Greek, specifically from the onomatopoeic word borboryzein, which means to rumble. This term was used by ancient Greek physicians, including Hippocrates, to describe the gurgling and splashing sounds produced by the movement of gas and fluids through the gastrointestinal tract. In modern medicine, borborygmi are considered a normal part of the digestive process, occurring as the muscles of the stomach and intestines contract to push food, liquid, and air forward, a process known as peristalsis. While often associated with hunger, these sounds actually occur at any time and can become louder when the stomach is empty because there is no food to muffle the noise. Although usually harmless, a complete absence of these bowel sounds or an extreme excess accompanied by pain can sometimes indicate an underlying medical condition, such as a gastrointestinal blockage.
Why this is true — The term is defined in major English dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster, as the rumbling sound of gas in the intestines.
Sources
- borborigmo | Diccionario de la lengua española Real Academia Española
- Борборигм Большая российская энциклопедия