constipation and always have such doubts:
will only have a bowel movement for several days. Where did the shit go? Wouldn't it be "eaten" by the intestines as the rumors said?
In fact, there are many people who have such doubts. After all, the frequency of defecation in patients with chronic constipation is generally once every 3 or 4 days, and it may even be delayed for more than a week.
hasn't been in the tub for such a long time, where did the stool that have accumulated in the body for several days go?
Today, Professor Qingchuan Zhao will answer this question for us.
01
stool formation process
To understand the whereabouts of undischarged stool, we must first look at the stool formation process.
The essence of poop is actually the undigested food residues, water, bacteria, mucosal cells shed from the intestine and other substances that we eat.
Our body’s digestive system is like a highly efficient factory. Its mode of operation is as follows:
Food is initially processed from the mouth → enters the stomach along the esophagus → is then digested through the stomach and small intestine. Part of the food → food residues that cannot be absorbed by the body carry water, electrolytes, some bacteria, mucosal cells shed from the intestine and flow to the large intestine → to form the original shape of stool. Image of
: Intestinal bacteria microbiome
At this time, these newborn stools are still in a liquid state, with a lot of water content.
However, in the large intestine, new stools will absorb part of the water and electrolytes by the large intestine, completes a shaping process from liquid stool to banana-like stool.
These successfully shaped stools will follow the movement of the intestines from the colon to the rectum, and then be stored in the rectum first. When the amount of stool is sufficient, it will trigger the nerve reflex for defecation, which is released by the internal and external sphincter, and the stool will be discharged .
This is the whole process of normal stool from formation to discharge.
But for patients with constipation, this process is not smooth, especially in the large intestine.
02
The pathogenesis of chronic constipation
Why is the same digestion (fecal production) mechanism, some people's poop is smooth from formation to elimination, and some people's poop goes through layers of bumps and eventually "disappears"?
In fact, this has a great relationship with the pathological mechanism of chronic constipation .
1, colon transport is slow
If someone asks where the longest part of the body is, then there is no doubt that it is the large intestine.
Our large intestine is roughly divided into colon and rectum. The total length of the colon is about 1.38 meters, and the length of the rectum is about 0.12 meters.
Source: Real-world research on constipation
Food residues are digested in the small intestine and then transferred to the colon of the large intestine. Then the excess water in the stool is absorbed from the colon, and the stool is shaped into a banana shape.
As for the rectum, it has become a "feces library" for storing shaped stool. Intestinal movement is like a logistics, which transports the shaped stool from the colon to the rectum's "stool reservoir".
In reality, any logistics express may be late, not to mention the intestines that are not subject to the subjective control of the human brain.
Source: Real-world research on constipation
Generally speaking, normalIt only takes 1 day for a person to transport stool from the colon to the rectum. For patients with constipation, because the colon moves slowly, this process may take 2 to 3 days or even longer.
Did you see it? Some poo. When on the road, it has been slow to others for a long time!
For this condition, it is medically called slow transit constipation.
2, abnormal bowel reflex
patients with constipation have poor bowel movements, and there may be abnormal bowel reflexes. According to the normal bowel response,
absorbs water through the colon and forms banana-shaped stools that will be transported to the rectum, the "stool reservoir" due to intestinal movement.
Stool is stored in the rectum, the large intestine will trigger the nerve receptors in the rectum, and the nerve receptors will upload the sensation of defecation to the brain. Image source of
: The network
then sends instructions from the brain to press anal sphincter , the muscles of the pelvic floor, and the muscles of the rectum work together, and the muscles of the rectum work hard to push the stool out of the rectum. Then the anal sphincter relaxes and the stool is discharged from the body. Complete the entire bowel movement.
If the defecation reflex is abnormal, the muscle movement of defecation is not coordinated, and the function of the enteric nervous system is abnormal, it will cause difficulty in defecation. This situation is called outlet obstructive constipation.
The stool at this time does not disappear, but is blocked in the rectum and cannot come out.
Source: Real-world research on constipation
But because of the limited space in the rectum, part of the stool that has not been discharged will return to the colon, block in the colon, and continue to be absorbed by the colon until it becomes dry and hard, from soft The yellow banana turns into black, hard nutty poop.
wait until the next time you have to defecate, it will be more difficult.
Sometimes, for healthy people, defecation is not so smooth.
When you want to defecate, the brain will judge whether the current time is suitable for defecation behavior. For example, during a meeting or travel can't find the bathroom, it will even forcibly ignore or reject the "feces" transmitted by the rectal nerve source.
Source: Network
At this time, the rectum is clamoring "to shit", and the brain can only tolerate this intention, telling the sphincter to hold on and never pull it.
Holding the stool will also cause the stool to return to the colon, and then the colon will absorb water and turn it into black, hard nutty stool. If you want to discharge it later, it is not so easy.
often hold back the stool, which will lead to constipation over time.
03
Where did the stool go during constipation?
According to the above digestion operation mode, bowel defecation mode and constipation mechanism, it is obvious that the stool that has not been discharged for several days during constipation is still in your intestine.
It may be on the way slowly from the colon to the rectum (slow transit constipation);
may also be unable to get out of the place separated from the anal sphincter after reaching the rectum (exit obstructive constipation) ; Z5z
may even occur at the same time (mixed constipation).
The specific conditions of these stools and the types of constipation require a professional doctor to clarify the specific conditions after a professional examination.
After being rejected by the anal sphincter, the poo returned to the colon sadly, they were constantly sucking water by the colon, changing from "small fresh stool" to "old poop", waiting for the next opportunity to be discharged.
source: real world research on constipation
and poop is not easy to bully. These "old poops" stay in the intestines for a long time and produce a lot of harmful substances under the action of bacteria.Such as methane, phenol, ammonia, etc. These substances are partially absorbed and spread to the central nervous system, which may affect the body's brain function.
and those "holding down" behaviors, at least affect the quality of the next bowel movement, will turn into constipation , may also cause a series of adverse reactions in the body.
Source: Real-world research on constipation
So, , in any case, don't "hold up your stool", just pass it when you have it, and do it and cherish it. The full text of
is summarized:
1, The intestine does not digest the stool on its own.
2, Our human body is like a large factory . The stomach and small intestine are responsible for the initial production of stool, the colon in the large intestine is responsible for shaping and transportation, the rectum is responsible for storage, and the brain nerves arrange the anal sphincter and pelvic floor muscles. Wait for discharge.
3. The pathological mechanism of constipation is that the intestinal transit may be slow, and the defecation nerve and muscle group may be abnormal.
4. Healthy people often hold back their stools , which may also cause constipation.
5, constipation for several days of shit, nowhere, is still in your intestines .
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