What Nerve Controls Bowel Movements?

The connection between the bowel and the brain allows us to control when and how we go to the bathroom. This is easy to take for granted when the body functions as it’s supposed to, but when the connection between the bowel and the brain is disrupted due to injury or illness, the resulting complications when it comes to the passing stool can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life and independence.

Summary show

overall bowel control. They are located in the pelvic area above the tailbone. The pudendal and pelvic splanchnic nerves are the two critical sacral nerves for bowel and bladder control. These nerves communicate with the brain through electrical impulses and reflexes that travel along the spinal cord to signal a feeling of fullness in the bowel, allowing the anal sphincter to relax and pass stool. Conversely, the brain signals the sacral nerves to keep the anal sphincter closed when the rectum is not full to prevent stool leakage and bowel accidents.

spinal cord injury or illness? Damage to the spinal cord disrupts the signals between the sacral nerves and the brain, resulting in the inability of the brain to ‘know’ when the rectum is complete and when to keep the anal sphincter closed. This condition is known as the neurogenic bowel. How the bowel functions post-injury depends on where the signals are disrupted in the spinal cord.

Bowel Movements

There are two primary types of neurogenic bowel:

Flaccid bowel causes the anal sphincter to be looser than usual and can lead to constipation and stool leakage. This typically occurs with a lower spinal cord injury (below T-12).

Reflex bowel occurs with damage to the spinal cord above T-12 and doesn’t allow for a voluntary relaxation of the anal sphincter to allow for excretion. The reflex that triggers the urge to have a bowel movement works, but the individual cannot feel when the rectum is entire, leading to constipation and bowel accidents.

regular program to manage how and when they pass stool, known as a bowel management program. This allows for optimum quality of life and independence. An effective bowel management program includes lifestyle elements and a routine for passing stool on a predictable schedule. Incorporating wellness habits to support a bowel management program that consists of a balanced, nutritious diet, adequate daily fiber intake, hydration, and a fitness regimen is essential.

Fiber:

Eating fiber-rich foods is one of the most critical aspects of managing bowel health. There are nutritional bars high in fiber, and some give you as much as 20% of your daily fiber intake. Other high-fiber foods include chickpeas, raspberries, broccoli, kidney beans, split peas, pears, avocado, and dark chocolate!

Fitness:

Physical movement also helps stimulate the bowel. For people with limited mobility, stretching and range of motion exercises help keep a regular bowel routine.

Hydration:

Fluid intake is essential to an effective bowel management program. Adequate non-diuretic fluid intake helps keep stool moving through the gastrointestinal tract and reduces the risk of constipation. Avoid or moderate beverages that can dehydrate the body, like alcohol and caffeine.

Routine:

With neurogenic bowel, it’s essential to follow a regular schedule to “teach” the bowel to have a movement. Establish times of day that fit your lifestyle, and stick to them as much as possible. Bowel programs typically require 30-60 minutes to complete. It’s preferable to complete the bowel care program on the commode. However, those at risk for skin breakdown should evaluate whether a seated position versus a side-lying place in bed is best. Gravity can assist with bowel movements, so if a seated place on padded or inflatable seats) is possible, this can be helpful.

Laxatives:

Laxatives often play an essential role in evacuating stools for people with neurogenic bowels, but not all laxatives are the same. It’s critical to consult a physician to understand which type of laxative works best for your situation. Studies show that people on a controlled bowel care program that includes oral and rectal laxatives to achieve complete rectal emptying had 35% fewer episodes of fecal incontinence and 42% fewer incidents of soiled laundry.

Joshua K. Lopez

As a health blogger, my goal is to educate people on healthy living and wellness trends. Through my writing, I hope to promote positive mental and physical health and provide people with tips, tricks, and recipes to lead a healthier lifestyle. My work has been featured in The Huffington Post, LiveStrong, FitSugar, and more. I’ve even appeared on national television, including The Doctors.