bulk cathartic

cathartic /ca·thar·tic/ (-tik)

1. causing emptying of the bowels.

2. an agent that empties the bowels.

3. producing emotional catharsis.

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bulk cathartic  one stimulating bowel evacuation by increasing fecal volume.

lubricant cathartic  one that acts by softening the feces and reducing friction between them and the intestinal wall.

saline cathartic  one that increases fluidity of intestinal contents by retention of water by osmotic forces and indirectly increases motor activity.

stimulant cathartic  one that directly increases motor activity of the intestinal tract.

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bulk cathartic

Etymology: ME, bulke, heap; Gk, kathartikos, evacuation of bowels

a cathartic (laxative) that acts by softening and increasing the mass of fecal material in the bowel. Bulk cathartics contain a hydrophilic agent such as methylcellulose or psyllium seed.

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cathartic [kah-thahr´tik]

1. causing emptying of the bowels.

2. an agent that so acts; called also evacuant and purgative.

3. producing emotional catharsis.

bulk cathartic one stimulating bowel evacuation by increasing fecal volume.

lubricant cathartic one that acts by softening the feces and reducing friction between them and the intestinal wall.

saline cathartic one that increases fluidity of intestinal contents by retention of water by osmotic forces, and indirectly increases motor activity.

stimulant cathartic one that directly increases motor activity of the intestinal tract.

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cathartic

1. causing bowel evacuation, usually of liquid feces; an agent that so acts.

2. producing catharsis.

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bulk cathartic

one stimulating bowel evacuation by increasing fecal volume.

irritant cathartic

contact irritants that directly or indirectly cause diarrhea. May cause superpurgation in susceptible animals, especially horses. Drastic purgatives such as croton oil are no longer used. Castor oil, danthron, senna and cascara are still used, but much less than more bland agents such as mineral oil.

lubricant cathartic

one that acts by softening the feces and reducing friction between them and the intestinal wall.

osmotic cathartic

agents which retain water into the intestinal lumen, thereby producing liquid feces; includes saline cathartics (below).

saline cathartic

one that increases fluidity of intestinal contents by retention of water by osmotic forces, and indirectly increases motor activity.

stimulant cathartic

one that directly increases motor activity of the intestinal tract.