Download Undigested food enters the colon where water is

Undigested food enters the colon where water is reabsorbed into the
body and excess waste is eliminated from the anus.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ]
Describe the process of elimination and problems that can occur
KEY POINTS [ edit ]
Water is reabsorbed in the colon after undigested food enters it from the small intestine.
Waste is moved through the colon by peristaltic movements of the muscle and is stored in the
rectum.
The rectum expands in response to the storage of fecal matter; neural signals are triggered, and
the waste is eliminated from the anus by peristaltic movements of the rectum.
Constipation is a condition where the feces are hardened because of excess water removal in the
colon.
Diarrhea results when large amounts of water are not removed from the feces.
Emesis, or vomiting, is elimination of food by forceful expulsion through the mouth caused by the
strong contractions produced by the stomach muscles.
TERMS [ edit ]
constipation
condition where the feces are hardened because of excess water removal in the colon
intestinal flora
the bacterial colonies that normally live in the digestive tract of animals
emesis
the act or process of vomiting
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Elimination
The final step in digestion is the
elimination of undigested food content
and waste products. After food passes
through the small intestine, the
undigested food material enters the colon,
where most of the water is reabsorbed.
Recall that the colon is also home to the
microflora called "intestinal flora" that aid
in the digestion process . The semi­solid
waste is moved through the colon by
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peristaltic movements of the muscle and is stored in the rectum. As the rectum expands in
response to storage of fecal matter, it triggers the neural signals required to set up the urge to
eliminate. The solid waste is eliminated through the anus using peristaltic movements of the
rectum.
Intestinal flora
Escherichia coli is one of the many species of bacteria present in the human gut.
Common Problems with Elimination
Diarrhea and constipation are some of the most common health concerns that affect
digestion. Constipation is a condition where the feces are hardened because of excess water
removal in the colon. In contrast, if not enough water is removed from the feces, it results in
diarrhea. Many bacteria, including the ones that cause cholera, affect the proteinsinvolved in
water reabsorption in the colon and result in excessive diarrhea.
Emesis
Emesis, or vomiting, is elimination of food by forceful expulsion through the mouth. It is
often in response to an irritant that affects the digestive tract, including, but not limited to,
viruses, bacteria, emotions, trauma, and food poisoning. This forceful expulsion of the food is
due to the strong contractions produced by the stomach muscles. The process of emesis is
regulated by the medulla.