tenesmus

noun Pathology.

1. a straining to urinate or defecate, without the ability to do so.

noun

1. pathol an ineffective painful straining to empty the bowels in response to the sensation of a desire to defecate, without producing a significant quantity of faeces

n.1520s, from Latin tenesmos, from Greek tenesmos “straining,” from teinein “to stretch” (see tenet). n.

1. A painful spasm of the anal sphincter accompanied by an urgent desire to evacuate the bowel or bladder and involuntary straining that results in the passing of little or no matter.