Constipation

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/constipation

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the associated conditions?Hypothyroidism, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C), and pelvic floor disorders
2. What causes constipation in kids?Constipation can happen when the colon moves slowly, when the muscles that help you poop don't work together, when certain illnesses or medicines slow the tummy, or when the stool gets too hard.
3. Why does constipation make my tummy hurt?When the stool stays in the colon too long, it pulls out water and becomes hard, which can cause tummy pain, bloating, and a feeling of not being fully empty.

Colonic Motility: The muscular contractions of the colon that move waste material towards the rectum.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Improper coordination of the pelvic floor muscles during defecation.
Alarm Symptoms: Warning signs in a medical context that suggest a potentially serious underlying condition.