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	<noinclude>{{pp-semi-protected\|small=yes}}</noinclude>
	] feces (foreground), Horse (background)]]

	{{dablink\|"Fecal matter" redirects here. For the band of the same name, see ].}}

	'''Feces''', '''faeces''', or '''fæces''' (see ]) is a waste product from an animal's ] expelled through the ] (or ]) during '']''. The word ''faeces'' is the plural of the ] word ''fæx'' meaning "dregs". There is no singular form in the English language, making it a ]. <ref></ref>

	==Etymology==
	Due to the nature of feces, several synonyms have developed. Of these, some are generally used as ] (such as ''']''' and '''crap''') while others have been deemed inoffensive (such as '''poo''', '''poop''', '''dookie''', and '''turds'''). Other terms (such as '''dung''' and '''droppings''') are normally used for animal feces rather than human feces.

	==Ecology==
	] disperse seeds via their feces.]]
	] feces aid in provision of minerals and plant nutrients in an accessible form]]
	After an animal has digested eaten material, the remains of it is ] from its body as waste. 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.<ref name=Campbell>''Biology'' (4th edition) N.A.Campbell (Benjamin Cummings NY, 1996) ISBN 0-8053-1957-3</ref> 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 ]s, which can ] odors from long distances.<ref>Heinrich, B., and G. A. Bartholomew (1979) The ecology of the African dung beetle. '']'' 241: 146-156</ref> 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 ], and occurs in various animal species such as young elephants eating their mother's feces to gain essential ], or by other animals such as monkeys.

	Feces are also important as a ]. ]s for instance are able to detect the feces of their prey (which reflect ]), allowing them to identify areas where there are large numbers of voles, for example. This adaptation is essential in ], as voles are expert at hiding from such predators.<ref>Viitala, J., E. Korpimäki, Polakangas, P., Koivula, M. (1995) Attraction of kestrels to vole scent marks visible in ultraviolet light. '']'' 373:423-425</ref> Some caterpillars even shoot their feces away from themselves in an explosive burst, helping them to avoid predators taking advantage of the ] signal it creates. In a non-predatory example, dominant ] bulls defend ] marked with feces and ]s produced by scent glands.

	]s may also be found in feces. Animals which eat ] are known as ]s. 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 ] is highly successful, as seeds dispersed around the base of a plant are unlikely to succeed and are often subject to heavy ]. 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 '']'' are known as ]s, and play an important role in ecosystems by recycling organic matter back into a simpler form which plants and other ]s may once again absorb. This cycling of matter is known as the ]. 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\|Human feces}}
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	In humans, defecation may occur (depending on the individual and the circumstances) from once every two or three days to several times a day. Hardening of the feces may cause prolonged interruption in the routine and is called ].

	] fecal matter varies significantly in appearance, depending on diet and health. Normally it is semisolid, with a ] coating. Its brown coloration comes from a combination of ] and ], which comes from dead ].

	In newborn babies, fecal matter is initially yellow/green after the ]. This coloration comes from the presence of ] alone. In time, as the body starts expelling bilirubin from dead red blood cells, it acquires its familiar brown appearance, unless the baby is ], in which case it remains soft, pale yellowish, and not-unpleasantly scented until the baby begins to eat significant amounts of other food.

	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.

	] overload is very rare, and not a health threat. Problems as simple as serious ] can cause blood in one's stool. 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 ] content. Beets may turn feces different hues of red. 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\|anal cleansing}}

	All cultures practice some form of personal cleansing after expelling feces.

	* In ] society, the use of ] is widespread.
	:* Other paper products were also historically used (before the advent of flush toilets).
	:* Several companies market toilet tissue or wipes for babies and campers.
	:* In some ]an countries, the use of a ] for additional cleaning is common.

	* In ], showers are provided for use in toilets.
	* In ], washing is prescribed by ritual cleansing with water, of which washing of the anus is part of the ablutions. 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 ], the anus is also washed with water using the left hand. As with all such practices, hand washing after use of the toilet has become a very important public health issue.

	* In ], 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. The ] was adapted as the WC or water closet and widely deployed in England during the reign of ]. London was the stage for several instances of ] resulting from workers handling food after using the toilet. Cleansing of the anus was an arbitrary practice left to personal choice and facility available.

	* In ], a communal sponge was used, which was then rinsed in a bucket of salt water.

	* In ], flat sticks were used in ancient times, being replaced by toilet paper as the country became more "Westernized". 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 ].

	], a disorder where non-food items are eaten, can cause unusual stool. ]s and their ] (eggs) can sometimes be visible to the ].

	== Odor ==
	] hydrogen sulfide contributes to the smell of feces.]]
	The distinctive ] of feces is due to ] action. ] produce compounds such as ], ], and ]s (]-containing compounds), as well as the inorganic gas ]. These are the same compounds that are responsible for the odor of ]. 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. <REF>http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1810028 Disgust may have Evolved to Protect Against Disease</REF> Of course, human perception of the odor is a ] matter; an animal that eats feces may be attracted to its odor.

	== Pets ==

	] feces on the asphalt]]

	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 ] cleaning products aimed at pet owners. However pet feces can be cleaned with just ] or liquid ]. <ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Cleaning.php \|title=Cleaning Tips \|publisher=The Partnership for Animal Welfare}}</ref>

	== Uses ==
	The feces of animals is often used as ]; see ].
	Some animal feces, especially those of the ], ] and ], is used as fuel when dried out.<ref></ref>
	Animal dung, besides being used as fuel, is occasionally used as a cement to make ] ] huts <ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs34d.htm \|title=Your Home Technical Manual - 3.4d Construction Systems - Mud Brick (Adobe) \|accessdate=2007-07-09}}</ref> or even in throwing sports such as cow pat throwing or camel dung throwing contests.<ref></ref><br><br>
	See also ] for the use of faeces in ], or ] in the ]<br>
	See also ] <blockquote>
	Kopi Luwak (pronounced ) 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).
	</blockquote>

	== See also ==
	* ]
	* '']''
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	==Bibliography==
	*''Fecal Matters in Early Modern Literature and Art: Studies in Scatology''. J Persels, R Ganim - 2004

	==References==
	{{reflist}}

	==Further reading==
	* ''History of Shit'' by Dominique Laporte. ISBN 0-262-62160-6

	==External links==
	{{commons\|Feces}}
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	* ISBN 1-932-59521-X

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Revision as of 04:27, 16 August 2008