Defecation

Anatomy of the anus and rectum

Defecation or feceation is the act or process by which organisms eliminate solid or semisolid waste material from the digestive tract. Humans remove waste anywhere from several times daily to a few times weekly; sloths can go for a week or more without eliminating. Waves of muscular contraction known as peristalsis in the walls of the colon move fecal matter through the digestive tract towards the rectum. Undigested food may also be expelled this way; this process is called egestion.

The rectum ampulla (anatomically also: ampulla recti) acts as a temporary storage facility for the non-needed material. As the rectal walls expand due to the materials filling it from within, stretch receptors from the nervous system located in the rectal walls stimulate the desire to defecate. If the urge is not acted upon, the material in the rectum is often returned to the colon where more water is absorbed. If defecation is delayed for a prolonged period the fecal matter may harden, resulting in constipation.

When the rectum is full, an increase in intrarectal pressure forces the walls of the anal canal apart allowing the fecal matter to enter the canal. The rectum shortens as material is forced into the anal canal and peristaltic waves launch the feces out of the rectum. The internal and external anal sphincters allow the feces to be passed by muscles pulling the anus up over the exiting feces.

During defecation the chest muscles, diaphragm, abdominal wall muscles, and pelvic diaphragm all exert pressure on the digestive tract and respiration temporarily ceases as the lungs push the chest diaphragm down in order to exert pressure. Blood pressure rises throughout the body and the amount of blood pumped by the heart decreases. During this time, the body is effectively undergoing similar stresses to that of a valsalva manoeuvre. Death has been known to occur in cases where defecation causes the blood pressure to rise enough to cause the rupture of an aneurysm or to dislodge blood clots (see thrombosis).

A cow defecating.

Cow feces

Defecation may be involuntary or under voluntary control. Young children learn voluntary control through the process of toilet training. Once trained, loss of control causing fecal incontinence may be caused by physical injury (such as damage to the anal sphincter that may result from an episiotomy), intense fright, inflammatory bowel disease, impaired water absorption in the colon (see diarrhea), and psychological or neurological factors.

The positions and modalities of defecation are culture-dependent. In some regions of the world, such as East Asia, rural parts of the Middle East, and parts of Southern Europe, it is customary to squat (typically using squat toilets), while in most of the Western World sit-down toilets are used. Similarly, the anus and buttocks may be cleansed with toilet paper or similar paper products, rags, leaves (including seaweed), corn cobs or sticks. In some cultures water is also used (e.g. as with a bidet).