Which gastrointestinal sound is characterized by gurgling?

The gastrointestinal sound known for its gurgling characteristics is borborygmi. This term describes the sounds produced by the movement of fluid and gas within the intestines. Borborygmi is typically heard when the stomach and intestines are active during digestion, or during periods of hunger, and it often manifests as a series of bubbling, gurgling noises.

This sound is normal and indicates that the digestive system is functioning as it should, moving contents through the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, other choices like stridor refer to a high-pitched sound resulting from airway obstruction, which is not related to gastrointestinal activity. Clicks are more subtle sounds that can occur but do not have the distinct gurgling quality of borborygmi. Flatulence pertains to the release of gas, which may or may not produce sound but does not describe the internal gurgling movement that borborygmi does. Thus, borborygmi is the correct answer due to its unique association with gurgling sounds in the gastrointestinal tract.