Defecation is the final act of digestion where solid or semi-solid waste is eliminated from the body. The large intestine absorbs salt and water while the rectum stores fecal matter until it is eliminated. Constipation may occur if defecation is delayed. Proctologists treat disorders of the primary organs of defecation.
Defecation is an act that sometimes makes small children laugh and is usually considered taboo in polite conversation. Also known as a bowel movement – and by a variety of slang terms – defecation is simply the final act of digestion. It is during this act that the elimination of solid or semi-solid waste from the body takes place. The waste that is passed out is known as faeces, faecal matter or faeces.
Since the digestive tract is constantly working, organisms are always one step closer to defecation. Food that is being digested is constantly being pushed through the small and large intestines. While the small intestine absorbs nutrients from food, the large intestine mainly absorbs salt and water. Soon after an organism eats, the muscles of the digestive tract start working. They expand and contract and cause food to start passing through the digestive tract.
The large intestine is divided into five different parts. It consists of the cecum, ascending colon, descending colon, transverse colon, and sigmoid colon. The muscles in the colon wall contract to send fecal matter up the rectum, where it is stored until it can be eliminated from the body. These muscle contractions are called peristalsis.
When fecal matter reaches the rectum, the walls of the rectum expand. This then triggers the stretch receptors in the rectum and stool is forced into the anal canal. The need to defecate is felt when this happens. Most people are able to hold their stool until they can reach a bathroom. This is accomplished by squeezing the external sphincter at the anus. Others, including young children, the elderly, and people with conditions such as spinal cord injuries, may not be as lucky and defecation may be involuntary.
The final act of defecation occurs when the fecal matter finally leaves the body. When the external sphincters are relaxed, muscle contractions push the stool out of the body. Different muscles throughout the body are used during defecation. The force is exerted by the chest muscles, the diaphragm, the abdominal muscles and the pelvic diaphragm. Blood pressure rises during defecation and breathing also ceases temporarily.
If defecation is not performed, stool is sent back to the colon, where more water is absorbed. If a person waits too long to defecate, they may become constipated. Constipation usually results in hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass and may require a laxative. Those with frequent constipation and other intestinal problems may need to see a doctor in proctology. Proctologists treat disorders of the primary organs of defecation, including the colon, rectum, and anus.
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