Tenesmus

[tә'nezmәs]

Definition

(noun.) painful spasm of the anal sphincter along with an urgent desire to defecate without the significant production of feces; associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

Edited by Gillian--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) An urgent and distressing sensation, as if a discharge from the intestines must take place, although none can be effected; -- always referred to the lower extremity of the rectum.

Editor: Ramon

Definition

n. the term applied in medicine to a straining and painful effort to relieve the bowels when no matter is present in the rectum the effort being caused by some adjacent source of irritation.—adj. Tenes′mic.

Edited by Jessica