Which term describes a surgical opening through the abdomen into the large intestine to allow stool to exit?

• A. Ileostomy
• B. Rectostomy
• C. Colostomy
• D. Anastomosis

Answer: (C)

Opening through the abdomen into the large intestine to allow stool to exit is called a colostomy. The colon is the part of the large intestine where stool forms, and a colostomy creates a stoma on the abdomen that drains waste into an external bag. This differs from an ileostomy, which shunts stool from the ileum (the end of the small intestine) and tends to produce more liquid output. A rectostomy would imply an opening into the rectum rather than through the abdominal wall into the colon and isn’t the standard term for this situation. An anastomosis, on the other hand, is a surgical connection between two ends of bowel, not a diverting opening to the outside. So the correct term is colostomy.