Flatus

Gas in the intestinal tract or passed through the anus. The intestinal gases are hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane, all of which are odorless. The unpleasant smell of flatus is the result of trace gases such as indole, skatole, and, most commonly, hydrogen sulfide.

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Gas or air in the gastrointestinal tract which may be expelled through the anus. [L. a blowing]

- f. vaginalis expulsion of gas from the vagina.

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fla·tus 'flāt-əs n gas generated in the stomach or bowels

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n.

intestinal gas, composed partly of swallowed air and partly of gas produced by bacterial fermentation of intestinal contents. It consists mainly of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane in varying proportions. Indigestible nonabsorbable carbohydrates in some foods (e.g. beans) cause increased volumes of flatus.

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fla·tus (flaґtəs) [L. “a blowing”] 1. gas or air in the gastrointestinal tract. 2. gas or air expelled through the anus.