Few consider the possibility that a solid mass of accumulated material might be occupying space inside the stomach itself.
Yet such masses exist.
Doctors refer to them as bezoars, a medical term describing compact collections of material that remain within the digestive system instead of passing through normally.
According to the Merck Manual, bezoars most commonly form in the stomach and may contain substances that are partially digested or cannot be digested effectively.
Some consist of plant fibers. Others develop from medications or different types of swallowed material.
One particularly unusual type is made of hair.
It is known as a trichobezoar.
Merck Manual Professional Edition
What exactly is a trichobezoar?
A trichobezoar is a tightly packed collection of hair that accumulates within the stomach.
Human hair contains keratin, a strong structural protein that the digestive system cannot efficiently break down.
When someone swallows small amounts of hair, the material may sometimes pass through the gastrointestinal tract without causing an obvious problem.
