Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus (or cloaca) during defecation. American and British English spelling differences are one aspect of American and British English differences. The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an Animal 's Digestive tract from the Mouth. In zoological anatomy a cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal and urinary tracts of certain animal species Defecation is the final act of Digestion by which organisms eliminate solid semisolid or liquid Waste material ( Faeces) from the Digestive tract The word faeces is the plural of the Latin word fæx meaning "dregs". Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. There is no singular form in the English language, making it a plurale tantum. A plurale tantum (plural pluralia tantum) is a noun that appears only in the Plural form and does not have a singular variant though it may still refer ^[1]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Ecology 3 Human feces 3.1 Personal hygiene 3.2 Bristol Stool Scale 4 Odor 5 Pets 6 Uses 7 See also 8 Bibliography 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External links

Etymology

Due to the nature of feces, several synonyms have developed. Of these, some are generally used as profanity (such as shit and crap) while others have been deemed inoffensive (such as poo, poop, and dookie). The original meaning of the adjective profane (from the Latin for "in front of or outside the Temple " was to refer to items not belonging to the church Other terms (such as dung) are normally used for animal feces rather than human feces.

Ecology

After an animal has digested eaten material, the remains of it is excreted from its body as waste. Excretion is the process of eliminating waste products of Metabolism and other non-useful materials Though it is lower in energy than the food it came from, feces may still contain a large amount of energy, often 50% of that of the original food. ^[2] This means that of all food eaten, a significant amount of energy remains for the decomposers of ecosystems. Many organisms feed on feces, from bacteria to fungi to insects such as dung beetles, which can sense odors from long distances. Dung beetles are beetles which feed partly or exclusively on Feces. See also Sense A sensory system is a part of the Nervous system responsible for processing sensory information ^[3] Some may specialize in feces, while others may eat other foods as well. Feces serve not only as a basic food, but also a supplement to the usual diet of some animals. This is known as coprophagia, and occurs in various animal species such as young elephants eating their mother's feces to gain essential gut flora, or by other animals such as monkeys. Coprophagia is the consumption of Feces, from the Greek copros (feces and phagein (eat The gut flora are the Microorganisms that normally live in the Digestive tract and can perform a number of useful functions for their hosts

Feces are also important as a signal. Within Evolutionary biology, signalling theory refers to a body of theoretical work examining communication between individuals Kestrels for instance are able to detect the feces of their prey (which reflect ultraviolet), allowing them to identify areas where there are large numbers of voles, for example. The name kestrel is given to several different members of the Falcon genus Falco. Ultraviolet ( UV) light is Electromagnetic radiation with a Wavelength shorter than that of Visible light, but longer than X-rays This adaptation is essential in prey detection, as voles are expert at hiding from such predators. Prey detection is the process by which Predators are able to detect and locate their prey via sensory signals ^[4] Some caterpillars even shoot their feces away from themselves in an explosive burst, helping them to avoid predators taking advantage of the olfactory signal it creates. Olfaction (also known as olfactics or smell) refers to the Sense of smell. In a non-predatory example, dominant wildebeest bulls defend territories marked with feces and pheromones produced by scent glands. In Ethology, Sociobiology and Behavioral ecology, the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an Animal of a particular Species A pheromone (from Greek φέρω phero "to bear" + ‘ορμόνη " Hormone " is a Chemical that triggers a natural

Seeds may also be found in feces. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored Animals which eat fruit are known as frugivores. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. A frugivore is an Animal that feeds primarily or in some cases exclusively on Fruit. The advantage in having fruit for a plant is that animals will eat the fruit and unknowingly disperse the seed in doing so. This mode of seed dispersal is highly successful, as seeds dispersed around the base of a plant are unlikely to succeed and are often subject to heavy predation. Biological dispersal refers to those processes by which a Species maintains ecosystem Seed predation includes any process inflicted on a Plant ’s seeds by an animal that results in the inviability of the Seed. Provided the seed can withstand the pathway through the digestive system, it is not only likely to be far away from the parent plant, but is even provided with its own fertilizer.

Organisms which subsist on dead organic matter or detritus are known as detritivores, and play an important role in ecosystems by recycling organic matter back into a simpler form which plants and other autotrophs may once again absorb. In Biology, detritus is non-living particulate organic material (as opposed to dissolved organic material Detritivores, also known as detritus feeders or saprophages, are Heterotrophs that obtain Nutrients by consuming Detritus (decomposing An autotroph (from the Greek autos = self and trophe = nutrition is an Organism that produces complex Organic compounds from simple This cycling of matter is known as the biogeochemical cycle. In Ecology and Earth science, a biogeochemical cycle is a circuit or pathway by which a Chemical element or Molecule moves through both biotic To maintain nutrients in soil it is therefore important that feces return to the area from which they came, which is not always the case in human society where food may be transported from rural areas to urban populations and then feces disposed of into a river or sea.

Human feces

Main article: Human feces

In humans, defecation may occur (depending on the individual and the circumstances) from once every two or three days to several times a day. Human Feces (also faeces &mdash see spelling differences) also known as stools, is the waste product of the human digestive system and varies significantly Hardening of the feces may cause prolonged interruption in the routine and is called constipation. Constipation, costiveness, or irregularity, is a condition of the Digestive system in which a person (or animal experiences hard Feces that

Human fecal matter varies significantly in appearance, depending on diet and health. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Normally it is semisolid, with a mucus coating. In vertebrates mucus is a slippery secretion produced by and covering Mucous membranes It is a viscous Colloid containing Antiseptic enzymes (such as Its brown coloration comes from a combination of bile and bilirubin, which comes from dead red blood cells. Bile or gall is a bitter yellow or green Alkaline fluid secreted by Hepatocytes from the Liver of most Vertebrates In many species Bilirubin (formerly referred to as hematoidin) is the yellow breakdown product of normal Heme Catabolism. Red blood cells are the most common type of Blood cell and the Vertebrate body's principal means of delivering Oxygen to the body tissues via the Blood

In newborn babies, fecal matter is initially yellow/green after the meconium. Meconium is the earliest This coloration comes from the presence of bile alone. Bile or gall is a bitter yellow or green Alkaline fluid secreted by Hepatocytes from the Liver of most Vertebrates In many species In time, as the body starts expelling bilirubin from dead red blood cells, it acquires its familiar brown appearance, unless the baby is breast feeding, in which case it remains soft, pale yellowish, and not-unpleasantly scented until the baby begins to eat significant amounts of other food. Breastfeeding is the feeding of an Infant or young Child with Breast milk directly from human Breasts, not from a Baby bottle or other

Throughout the life of an ordinary human, one may experience many types of feces. A "green" stool is from rapid transit of feces through the intestines (or the consumption of certain blue or green food dyes in quantity), and "clay-like" appearance to the feces is the result of a lack of bilirubin.

Bile overload is very rare, and not a health threat. Bile or gall is a bitter yellow or green Alkaline fluid secreted by Hepatocytes from the Liver of most Vertebrates In many species Problems as simple as serious diarrhea can cause blood in one's stool. In Medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea (see spelling differences) is frequent loose or liquid Bowel movements Acute diarrhea Black stools caused by blood usually indicate a problem in the intestines (the black is digested blood), whereas red streaks of blood in stool are usually caused by bleeding in the rectum or anus.

Food may sometimes make an appearance in the feces. Common undigested foods found in human feces are seeds, nuts, corn and beans, mainly because of their high dietary fiber content. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Artificial food coloring in some processed foods such as highly colorful packaged breakfast cereals can also cause unusual feces coloring if eaten in sufficient quantities.

Personal hygiene

Main article: anal cleansing

All cultures practice some form of personal cleansing after expelling feces. Anal cleansing is the important hygienic practice of cleaning the anus after defecation

• In Western society, the use of toilet paper is widespread. Toilet paper is a soft paper product used to maintain Personal hygiene after human Defecation or Urination.

• Other paper products were also historically used (before the advent of flush toilets).
• Before paper was cheap to produce, a "toilet rag" made of cloth was used, with a separate rag assigned to each family member.
• Several companies market toilet tissue or wipes for babies and campers.
• In some European countries, the use of a bidet for additional cleaning is common. A bidet is a low-mounted Plumbing fixture or type of Sink intended for Washing the Genitalia, inner Buttocks, and Anus.

• In South Asia, showers are provided for use in toilets.
• In Islam, washing is prescribed by ritual cleansing with water, of which washing of the anus is part of the ablutions. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The "act" of passing toilet, in Islam, requires ritual cleansing with water using the left hand. As religion is often practiced by widely differing cultural groups, Islamic tradition involves washing of the hands using soap and water after ablutions after using the toilet, to using of tissue paper to dry-off hands and other "wet" parts of the body to showers after each toilet use. In many Muslim countries, piped water is supplied inside toilets for both bathing and washing in addition to flushing of fecal matter. Such toilets are also common in Greece, Spain and parts of Eastern Europe.

• In India, the anus is also washed with water using the left hand. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country As with all such practices, hand washing after use of the toilet has become a very important public health issue.

• In England, there was historically much fascination with the act of going to the toilet, with royals appointing lesser mortals to assist with the removal of faeces and cleansing of the body parts using towels. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Indian toilet was adapted as the WC or water closet and widely deployed in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. A squat toilet (also known as an Eastern or floor-level toilet is a Toilet used by squatting, rather than sitting. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland London was the stage for several instances of food poisoning resulting from workers handling food after using the toilet. Foodborne illness (also foodborne disease) is any Illness resulting from the consumption of food Cleansing of the anus was an arbitrary practice left to personal choice and facility available.

• In Ancient Rome, a communal sponge was used, which was then rinsed in a bucket of salt water. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC

• In Japan, flat sticks were used in ancient times, being replaced by toilet paper as the country became more "westernized". For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Toilets that include built-in bidets have now become widely popular in private homes.

Bristol Stool Scale

Consistency and shape of stools may be classified medically according to the Bristol Stool Scale. The Bristol Stool Scale or Bristol Stool Chart is a Medical aid designed to classify the form of Human feces into seven categories

Pica, a disorder where non-food items are eaten, can cause unusual stool. Pica is a medical disorder characterized by an Appetite for largely non-nutritive substances (e Intestinal parasites and their ova (eggs) can sometimes be visible to the naked eye. Intestinal parasites are Parasites that populate the Gastro-intestinal tract. The naked eye is a Figure of speech referring to human Visual perception that is unaided by enhancing equipment such as a Telescope or

Odor

The distinctive odor of feces is due to bacterial action. The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have Gut flora produce compounds such as indole, skatole, and thiols (sulfur-containing compounds), as well as the inorganic gas hydrogen sulfide. The gut flora are the Microorganisms that normally live in the Digestive tract and can perform a number of useful functions for their hosts Indole is an Aromatic heterocyclic Organic compound. It has a bicyclic structure consisting of a six-membered Benzene ring fused to a five-membered Skatole or 3-methylindole is a mildly Toxic White Crystalline Organic compound belonging to the Indole family In Organic chemistry, a thiol is a compound that contains the functional group composed of a Sulfur atom and a Hydrogen atom (-SH Sulfur or sulphur (ˈsʌlfɚ see spelling below) is the Chemical element that has the Atomic number 16 Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the Chemical compound with the formula H 2 S. These are the same compounds that are responsible for the odor of flatulence. Flatulence is the production of a mixture of gases in the digestive tract of Mammals that are byproducts of the digestion process Consumption of foods with spices may result in the spices being undigested and adding to the odor of feces. The perceived bad odor of feces has been hypothesized to be a deterrent for humans, as consumption or touching it may result in sickness or infection. ^[5] Of course, human perception of the odor is a subjective matter; an animal that eats feces may be attracted to its odor. Subjectivity refers to a subject's perspective particularly feelings beliefs and desires

Pets

Pets can be trained to use litter boxes or wait to be let out via several methods, such as crate training for dogs. Several companies market carpet cleaning products aimed at pet owners. A carpet is any loom-woven felted textile or grass floor covering However pet feces can be cleaned with just dishwashing detergent or liquid soap. Dishwashing liquid ( BrE: washing-up liquid), also known as dishwashing soap or dish soap, is a Detergent used to assist SOAP (see below for name and origins is a protocol for exchanging XML -based messages over Computer networks normally using ^[6]

Uses

The feces of animals is often used as fertilizer; see manure. Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant Manure is Organic matter used as Organic fertilizer in Agriculture. Some animal feces, especially those of the camel, bison and cow, is used as fuel when dried out. Camels are Even-toed ungulates within the Genus Camelus. The Dromedary, one-humped or Arabian camel has a single hump and the This is an article about an animal For other uses see Bison (disambiguation. Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family ^[7] Animal dung, besides being used as fuel, is occasionally used as a cement to make adobe mud brick huts ^[8] or even in throwing sports such as cow pat throwing or camel dung throwing contests. Adobe bricks are a Natural building material made from Sand, Clay, water and some kind of fibrous or Organic material ( Sticks, A mudbrick is a firefree Brick made of Clay, or mud mixed with a binding material such as rice husks or straw ^[9]

See also Fewmets for the use of faeces in Venery, or Hunting in the Middle Ages

See also Kopi Luwak

Kopi Luwak (pronounced [ˈkopi ˈluwak]) or Civet coffee is coffee made from coffee berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). Fewmets are the droppings of an animal by which the Hunter identifies the prey Hunting is the practice of pursuing Animals for Food, Recreation, or Trade. Kopi Luwak (ˈkopi ˈluwak or Civet coffee is Coffee made from coffee berries which have been eaten by and passed through the Digestive tract

See also

• Cloaca (art)
• Ecological sanitation
• Everyone Poops
• Night soil
• Toilet
• Toilet paper
• Anal cleansing

Bibliography

• Fecal Matters in Early Modern Literature and Art: Studies in Scatology. Wim Delvoye ( Wervik, 1965 is a Belgian Conceptual artist known for a number of unconventional projects Ecological sanitation, also known as ecosan or eco-san, is a new paradigm in sanitation that recognises human excreta and household wastewater not as waste but as Everyone Poops is the title of the US edition of the English translation of, a Japanese children's book written and illustrated by the prolific children's Night soil is a Euphemism for human Feces. "Night soil" is produced as a result of a Waste management system in areas without community Infrastructure A toilet is a Plumbing fixture and disposal system primarily intended for the disposal of the bodily wastes: Urine and fecal matter. Toilet paper is a soft paper product used to maintain Personal hygiene after human Defecation or Urination. Anal cleansing is the important hygienic practice of cleaning the anus after defecation J Persels, R Ganim - 2004 [1]

References

Further reading

• History of Shit by Dominique Laporte. ISBN 0-262-62160-6

External links

• A FAQ site on feces
• Free reference linking feces and illness
• Liver biochemistry
• MedFriendly's Article on Feces
• Poop Culture: How America is Shaped by its Grossest National Product ISBN 1-932-59521-X

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