Medical Dictionary
Main Entry:
irritable bowel syndrome Function:
noun : a chronic functional disorder of the colon that is of unknown etiology but is commonly considered to be ofpsychosomatic origin and that is characterized by the secretion and passage of large amounts of mucus, by constipation alternating with diarrhea, and by cramping abdominal pain —abbreviation
IBS; called also
irritable colon, irritable colon syndrome, mucous colitis, spastic colon
