Why do our stomachs rumble?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Muscles squeeze air and fluids
Stomach acid bubbles actively — Wrong. Stomach acid doesn't bubble to create rumbling sounds. The noise comes from muscular contractions moving contents through the digestive system.
Muscles squeeze air and fluids ✓ — Correct! Stomach rumbling (borborygmi) occurs when stomach and intestinal muscles contract, squeezing air, gas, and digestive fluids through the digestive tract. This happens both when hungry and during normal digestion, but is louder when the stomach is empty.
Hunger signals from the brain — Wrong. Hunger doesn't directly cause rumbling. The sound comes from digestive muscle contractions, which can be triggered by hunger but also occur during normal digestion.
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