Human feces

Human feces or faeces (the latter spelling often used in British English) refers to the solid or semisolid metabolic byproducts excreted from the human body through the process of defecation. This process occurs via the anus after the digestive process in the small and large intestines.

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Composition

The main constituents of human feces are the undigested and unabsorbed remains of food consumed. This typically involves various types of fiber, such as cellulose, which are resistant to digestion in the small intestine but can be further broken down by bacteria present in the large intestine<ref>

Human Colonic Microbiota: Ecology, Physiology and Metabolic Potential of Intestinal Bacteria(link). National Library of Medicine.

Accessed 2023-06-21.

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In addition to these dietary remnants, human feces also contains a multitude of bacteria, both alive and dead, which comprise a significant proportion of the fecal mass. It also contains metabolic waste products such as bilirubin which has been altered by bacterial action, and dead epithelial cells from the lining of the gut.

Appearance and Characteristics

The color, texture, and size of human feces can vary widely, largely due to diet and health status. The typical brown color is due to bilirubin, a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver. This substance is metabolized by intestinal bacteria into stercobilin, which imparts the brown color.

The Bristol Stool Scale is a diagnostic medical tool designed to classify the form of human feces into seven categories and can be useful in identifying changes related to medications, diet, or diseases of the digestive tract<ref>

The Bristol Stool Scale: Its reliability and association with gastrointestinal symptoms and other parameters(link). National Library of Medicine.

Accessed 2023-06-21.

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Clinical Relevance

Human feces can be used in diagnostic medicine to detect certain diseases and health conditions. Fecal samples can be tested for the presence of blood (fecal occult blood test), pathogens including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, fat content (fecal fat test), and certain toxins.

The term "stool" is more commonly used in the clinical or laboratory setting as compared to "feces."

References

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