Stoma terms explained

Adhesive 

The part of a stoma appliance that attaches the appliance to your skin while you are wearing it. The adhesive must ensure close contact with the skin surface so that output from your stoma does not touch the surrounding skin. 

Baseplate 

The part of a two-piece stoma appliance that is covered by the adhesive. 

Colon 

The last part of the digestive system, also known as the large bowel or large intestine. 

Colostomy 

An operation that involves bringing a part of your colon to the surface of your abdomen to form the ostomy. 

Colostomy Pouch 

An appliance connected to your ostomy that collects waste from the colon. The pouch can either be a one-piece or a two-piece system. 

Convexity 

A specially shaped baseplate with an oval shell that puts light pressure on the peristomal skin. It is designed to help pouch a stoma that is difficult to manage, for example, a retracted stoma that lies below the skin. 

Coupling system 

This attaches the adhesive baseplate to the pouch in a two-piece appliance, allowing the pouch to be changed without changing the baseplate. It can either be mechanical, or adhesive. 

Extended wear adhesive 

An adhesive that can be worn for a longer time period, or if there is “aggressive” output from your stoma. Some types of ileostomies or urostomies can have output that breaks down standard adhesives too quickly. Extended wear adhesives are generally used with two-piece appliances. 

Filter 

From time to time, your stoma releases flatus or wind. The filter included in the appliance has a deodorising action which helps ensure there is no odour, one of the things that people often worry about. It also controls the release of the deodorised wind, so that your bag doesn’t inflate (which is also called ‘ballooning’). 

 Ileum 

The final part of the small intestine. 

Ileostomy 

An operation that involves bringing a part of your small bowel called the ileum to the surface of your abdomen to form the ostomy. 

Ileostomy pouch 

An appliance connected to your ostomy that collects waste from the ileum. The pouch can either be a one-piece or a two-piece system. 

Non-return valve 

Urostomy appliances have a non-return valve to stop urine from flowing back to the stoma and help prevent urinary infections. 

One-piece system 

An all-in-one pouch sticks directly to your skin using an adhesive. The whole appliance is disposed of after use. 

Ostomy (see stoma)

Stoma 

A stoma is a surgically created opening in the body that allows faeces or urine to pass from either the intestine or from the urinary tract. 'Ostomy' usually refers to the procedure itself of surgically creating a hole - the main types being 'colostomy', 'ileostomy' and 'urostomy'. 

Two-piece system 

A two-piece system consists of two components: A baseplate and a disposable pouch, 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. 

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 (ostomy). 

Urostomy pouch 

An appliance connected to your ostomy that collects the urine. The pouch has a valve, which allows you to empty the urine easily and discretely. The pouch can either use a one-piece or a two-piece system.