A bowel movement is the process, while stool is the product. In other words, the bowel movement is the action of expelling waste, and the stool is the waste itself.
Here's a breakdown:
| Feature | Bowel Movement | Stool |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The act of passing waste from the body. | The solid waste material expelled. |
| What is it? | A process. | The end product/material. |
| Another Name | Defecation | Feces. According to the reference, another name for stool is feces. |
| Involves | The entire digestive tract culminating in excretion through the rectum and anus. | The waste that passes out of your body through the rectum and anus (as stated in the reference). |
| Location in process | The last stop in the movement of food through your digestive tract (as stated in the reference). | What is expelled during the last stop. |
Therefore, when discussing the act of emptying your bowels, you would refer to it as a bowel movement. When referring to the waste material itself, you would call it stool or feces.
