What is a stoma
A stoma is a surgically created opening on the surface of the abdomen that allows waste (such as stool or urine) to leave the body when the normal route is not possible or needs to be bypassed.
Appearance: It looks like a small, moist, red/pink piece of tissue on the tummy.
Function: Instead of waste passing through the rectum or bladder, it exits through the stoma into a special external pouch (a stoma bag/ostomy bag).
What a stoma is (in simple terms):
A section of intestine (or urinary tract) is brought through the abdominal wall.
The end is turned inside-out and stitched to the skin, forming a moist, pink opening with no sphincter muscle (so output cannot be voluntarily controlled).
Basic Anatomy & Physiology
Digestive system (stool stomas):
Food travels from the mouth → oesophagus → stomach → small intestine (ileum) → large intestine (colon) → rectum → anus.
A colostomy diverts stool from the colon, and an ileostomy diverts stool from the ileum.
Instead of exiting through the rectum, waste passes out through the stoma into a pouch.
Urinary system (urostomy):
Normally, urine travels from kidneys → ureters → bladder → urethra.
A urostomy redirects urine (often using a piece of small intestine) to form a stoma on the abdomen.
Urine drains continuously into a pouch.
Types of Stoma & Surgeries
Colostomy – from the large intestine (colon).
Ileostomy – from the small intestine (ileum).
Urostomy – diverts urine when the bladder isn’t functional.
