tummy rumbles

[dozeydo]

Please does anyone know why your tummy rumbles when you're hungry?

[theprof]

The medical name for tummy rumbles is borborygmi.

Firstly you need to realise that a stomach is never totally empty - it contains enzyme solutions, gases, gastric juice, mucus and other substances at all times. In an apparently "empty" stomach, these gases and liquids are shifted around by contractions of the muscles in the stomach wall. This is what causes the rumbling noises. These contractions happen all the time, but in a full stomach, the contents don't move about so much so they create less noise.

It's the same principal as if you threw a plastic ball into an empty tin bucket, it would make a lot more noise than if you threw the ball into a bucket already filled with plastic balls.

Sometimes, your tummy rumbles when you've got a full stomach. This is usually caused by either the presence of gas producing foods such as beans or you may have swallowed too much air with your food.

[dozeydo]

Cheers, theprof! Very grateful for your explanation can now settles my dept's argument!!!