Why Understanding Feces Matters in Biology
Feces and faeces meaning are the same just spelling is different, and it is also known as excrement. It is a kind of solid bodily waste discharged from the large intestine via the anus during defecation. It is removed from the body one or two times a day depending on the individual condition. Feces excreted from the human adult body weighs about 100 to 250 grams ( Which is equal to three to eight-ounce).
Faeces Meaning - It is the waste matter eliminated from the bowels; excrement.
Feces are generally made of three-quarter of water and one-quarter of solid matter. In one-quarter of solid matter, it consists of about 30 percent of dead bacteria and 30 per cent consists of indigestible food matter like cellulose. And 10 to 20 per cent is cholesterol and other fats and another 10-20 per cent is an inorganic substance such as calcium phosphate and iron phosphate, finally leftover 2 - 3 per cent is protein.
The colour of the feces is brown due to the action of bacteria on bilirubin, which is the end product of haemoglobin (red blood cells) breakdown. The main reason behind the bad odour of the feces is caused by the chemicals indole, skatole, hydrogen sulphide, and mercaptans, all these chemicals are produced by bacterial action.
The function of the bowel is affected by many diseases and disorders that produce abnormalities in the feces. Constipation is characterized by one among them, in which infrequent evacuation of the feces occurs due to the production of excessively hard and dry feces. while diarrhoea results in frequent defecation and excessively soft, watery feces.
Some you can see blood in the stool, which is due to the bleeding in the stomach or intestine. The appearance of the stool containing blood appears dark red, tarry, or black. And when the stool is fatty or greasy it indicates pancreatic or small intestine afflictions. Some of the diseases like typhoid, cholera, and amoebic dysentery spreads by the contamination of food with the feces of the infected person.
Human Feces
The feces of the human depends on the individual and the several circumstances, human beings may defecate several times a day, every day, or once every two or three days. When the person is unable to poop for several days due to extensive hardening of the feces is known as constipation.
The faecal matter of the human being changes in appearance depending on the diet and the health of the individual, normally, the human feces are semisolid with a mucus coating. The typical brown colour of the feces is due to the combination of bile and bilirubin, which comes from the red blood cells.
Impacted Feces
When a person consumes the food, it is broken in the stomach and passes through the intestine., this process is also called digestion. The nutrients are absorbed from the body
And the remaining rate passes along with the colon and rectum.
In some rare cases, things might go wrong and the waste becomes stuck in the colon. assume, when you have an impacted colon, feces will become dry and won’t budge. Which makes it impossible to excrete them from your body, Impacted feces block the way for new waste to leave the body, causing it to back up.
Uses of the Animal Feces
Animal feces of some animals like guano and manure are often used as fertilizers.
In some of the places, dry animal dung is used as a fuel source. Some of the examples are camel, bison, and cattle, which are the source of fuel when dried.
Some of the animals like giant pandas and zebras produce biofuel from feces due to the presence of gut bacteria.
In rare cases, animal dung is also used as cement to make adobe mud-brick huts.
In places like northern Thailand, elephants are used to digest coffee beans in order to make black ivory coffee.
Feces of dog is used in the tanning process of the leather known as "pure", "puer", or "pewer", during the victoria era.
There are many beliefs of cow dung and urine having medicinal value, a belief of healing properties or as a food staple, and as told by politician Shankar Bhai Vegad in 2015, "I am witness to it, cow dung and urine is a 100 per cent cure for cancer".
Do You Know?
What are the reasons for the green feces?
1. You’re taking antibiotics.
2. You’ve had an infection, especially involving diarrhoea.
3. You have a liver or gastrointestinal illness.
4. You’re eating a ton of green veggies.
5. You’ve been consuming green dyes (think: frosting and ice cream).
6. You’re taking iron supplements.
7. You’re on the birth control shot.
FAQs on Feces: Meaning, Types, and Biological Significance
1. What exactly are feces in the context of human biology?
Feces, also known as stool, are the waste products of digestion that are eliminated from the body. This process of elimination is called egestion. Feces consist of materials that could not be absorbed or used by the body, such as undigested food particles, along with other waste substances.
2. What is the typical composition of human feces?
While it can vary, human feces are generally composed of:
- Water (about 75%)
- Bacteria (both living and dead microbes that aid digestion)
- Undigested dietary fibre
- Cellular linings shed from the intestines
- Small amounts of fats, salts, and proteins
- Substances secreted by the liver and intestines, like mucus and bile pigments
3. How are feces formed in the human body?
After food is digested and nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine, the remaining undigested material moves into the large intestine. Here, most of the water is absorbed back into the body, and the waste becomes more solid. This semi-solid mass is then stored in the rectum before being expelled from the body through the anus during a process called defaecation.
4. What gives feces its characteristic brown colour?
The brown colour of feces is primarily due to a pigment called stercobilin. Stercobilin is a chemical byproduct of the breakdown of old red blood cells. The liver processes hemoglobin from these cells into bilirubin, which is then converted by bacteria in the intestine into stercobilin, giving stool its typical colour.
5. Why is analyzing a stool sample important for medical diagnosis?
A stool analysis is a valuable diagnostic tool because its composition can reveal important information about a person's health. Doctors can check for the presence of blood, parasites, harmful bacteria, or high levels of fat. The colour and consistency can also indicate potential issues with the liver, gallbladder, or digestive tract, helping to diagnose infections or diseases.
6. Is there a difference between the spellings "feces" and "faeces"?
No, there is no biological difference. The terms refer to the same thing. "Feces" is the standard spelling in American English, while "faeces" is the common spelling in British English. Both are considered correct.
7. What causes the odour associated with feces?
The odour of feces is caused by the metabolic activity of the vast population of bacteria in the large intestine. As these bacteria break down undigested food, especially proteins and amino acids, they produce various odorous gases and compounds, such as indole, skatole, and hydrogen sulfide.
8. What is the importance of dietary fibre for healthy bowel movements?
Dietary fibre, which is the indigestible part of plant-based foods, plays a crucial role in forming healthy stool. It adds bulk and softness to the feces, which helps them move more easily through the colon. A sufficient intake of fibre is essential for preventing constipation and maintaining regular bowel movements.
