What is the Bristol Stool Chart?

The Bristol stool chart separates feces or stool into seven categories. It is used by doctors to discuss digestive health, as reported by Dr. Scott McLeod of Doctor Scott Health. The chart was created by Dr. Ken Heaton when he was working at University of Bristol in Bristol, UK.

Of the seven categories, the top two indicate constipation. Categories three and four show the ideal shape and texture of stool for a healthy individual, as reported by Doctor Scott Health. Numbers five, six and seven indicate diarrhea and urgency. In an article published by The Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, the Bristol stool chart can be used to indicate intestinal health.