Glossary
Colon
The last part of the digestive system, also known as the large bowel or large intestine.
Read more about the digestive system
Colostomy
An operation that involves bringing a part of your colon to the surface of your abdomen to form the stoma.
Colostomy bag
An appliance connected to your stoma that collects waste from the colon. The pouch can either be a one-piece or a two-piece system.
Filter
An opening in your pouch with a charcoal filter that removes odour from the gas, before it's let out from the pouch.
Ileum
The final part of the small intestine.
Read more about the digestive system
Ileostomy
An operation that involves bringing a part of your small bowel called the ileum to the surface of your abdomen to form the stoma.
Further reading
Ileostomy pouch
An appliance connected to your stoma that collects waste from the ileum. The pouch can either be a one-piece or a two-piece system.
One-piece system
An all-in-one ostomy bag that sticks directly to your skin using an adhesive. The whole appliance is disposed after use.
Ostomy
An ostomy (stoma) is a surgically created opening in the body that allows faeces or urine either from the intestine or from the urinary tract to pass. There are three types of ostomies: Colostomy, Ileostomy and Urostomy.
Stoma
See Ostomy
Two-piece system
A two-piece system consists of two components: A baseplate and a disposable bag, which is attached to the baseplate using an adhesive or a mechanical coupling system.
Ureters and urethra
The ureters are the tubes through which the urine travels down from the kidneys to your bladder. The urine then passes out of your body through the urethra.
Read more about the urinary system
Urostomy
An operation that involves replacing the bladder function by diverting your urine to a section of the small intestine. The end of the intestine is then brought out through a small cut in the abdominal wall and stitched to the skin of the stomach, creating an opening (stoma).
Further reading
Urostomy bag
An appliance connected to your stoma that collects the urine. The bag has a valve, which allows you to empty the urine easily and discretely. The bag can either use a one-piece or a two-piece system.
