Have you ever felt a stomach ache?

What causes the faeces out of the anus ?

Have you ever wondered about the
content of your faeces and how is it
formed ?

LEARNING OUTCOME 1
Identify the part of the digestive system
where the formation of faeces takes place.

LEARNING OUTCOME 2
Describe the formation of faeces.
Undigested materials fibre

(cellulose) + excretory product (bile

pigments, dead cells) + bacteria +
water enter colon (help by
peristalsis)
Recovery of water from undigested

remains in the colon results in the

o The faeces moves slowly along

the colon with the aid of
peristalsis
o The wall of the colon secretes
mucus to smoothen the
movement of faeces.
o
i.

The faeces
Kept in the colon for 12 14
hours

LEARNING OUTCOME 3
Explain the role of microorganisms in the
colon & the effect of antibiotics on them.

Prevents the reproduction of

pathogenic bacteria which can cause
disease

Probiotic bacteria such as

Bifidobacteria and Lactobasillus
genuses are beneficial bacteria which
perform fermentation in the human
colon

LEARNING OUTCOME 3
Explain the role of microorganisms in the colon &
the effect of antibiotics on them.

E. coli synthesis of vitamin B12 &

vitamin K
B12 : formation of red blood cell
K : synthesis of blood clotting
factors

Overuse of antibiotics?

o Reduce the good microbial

population eg. E.Coli
o Food digestion and absorption of
nutrients in the intestines will be
affected

LEARNING OUTCOME 4
Explain what defaecation is
Defaecation : the elimination of
faeces from the body through the
anus.
When the faeces increase, the
pressure produced in the rectum
causes the faeces to be pushed
out from the body through the

LEARNING OUTCOME 5
Explain the importance of defaecation
Discharging
waste and
unwanted
substances to
avoid toxicity

Constipation
frequently increases
the risk of colon
cancer

Defective defaecation
cause:
Abdominal discomfort
Poor appetite
Sensation of vomitting

To avoid the colon

retains it contains too
long

LEARNING OUTCOME 6
Explains the importance of high fibre
diets.
o The action of peristalsis
is
stimulated by fibres
o A high fibre diet is very important
for :
Helps to absorb water
Prevent constipation
Help the movement of undigested
food substances along the colon

LEARNING OUTCOME 7
What is the problem related to defaecation?

Constipation Haemorrhoids
(piles) Colon cancer

CONSTIPATION
The difficulty or

infrequent evacuation
of the bowels
(elimination of faeces).
Faeces becomes dry &
hard difficult to
eliminate.
To prevent eat foods
high in fibres, drinking
more fluid

HAEMORROIDS (PILES)
Swollen veins in the

rectum or anus.
Constipation
EXCESSIVE pressure
exerted on the veins.
Itchiness, pain &
rectal bleeding when
the veins rupture.

COLON CANCER
o Malignant tumors of the large

intestine
o Diets high in fats are believed to
cause colon cancer breakdown of
products from fat leads to the
formation of caseinogens (cancercausing chemicals)

COLON CANCER
Symptoms : change in frequency of

bowel movement, blood in faeces,

abdominal pain, discomfort, weight
loss.
Prevention: Consume high-fibre &
low fat diet.

Instruction: Arrange the process of

defaecation in the correct sequence
Water, minerals and vitamins are absorbed into the
blood stream.
The sphincter muscle relax, the rectal wall contracts
and faeces is eliminated through the anus through
defaecation.
When the rectum is full, pressure in the rectum
causing a desire to expel the faeces from the body.
Undigested food from ileum enters the colon
The remaining content in the colon forms faeces
which contains undigestible food, dead cells, bile
pigments and bacteria.
Faeces is stored temporarily in the rectum.

EXERCI
SE
1. _______________ comes from the ileum into

the colon consists of __________________.

2. Water, salts and vitamins are absorbed into
the colon and the remaining contents
becomes _______.
3. Faeces which are not quickly expelled from
the body will harden in the rectum because
__________ _____________________.
4. Explain why the presence of
microorganisms in the alimentary canal is
important to us.

1.

2.

3.

4.

ANSWER
Undigested food comes
from the ileum into
S

the colon consists of fibre (cellulose),

excretory product bacteria and water .
Water, salts and vitamins are absorbed into
the colon and the remaining contents
becomes faeces.
Faeces which are not quickly expelled from
the body will harden in the rectum because
the rectum absorbs water from the faeces.
Explain why the presence of microorganisms
in the alimentary canal is important to us.
Microorganisms maintain a stable
environment in the alimentary canal.

RECALL!!
RECALL!!