What is the process of passing undigested material out of the anus called?

What is the process of passing undigested material out of the anus called?

• A. Elimination
• B. Defecation
• C. Ingestion
• D. Absorption

Answer: (A)

Defecation is the act of expelling feces from the digestive tract through the anus. After nutrients are absorbed, the remaining indigestible material becomes feces in the colon, and coordinated muscle contractions move it toward the rectum. When the rectum is full, stretch receptors trigger a reflex that, with voluntary control of the external anal sphincter, allows the stool to be released through the anus. Elimination is a broader term for removing wastes from the body, while ingestion and absorption describe taking in and absorbing nutrients, not expelling waste.

Defecation is the act of expelling feces from the digestive tract through the anus. After nutrients are absorbed, the remaining indigestible material becomes feces in the colon, and coordinated muscle contractions move it toward the rectum. When the rectum is full, stretch receptors trigger a reflex that, with voluntary control of the external anal sphincter, allows the stool to be released through the anus. Elimination is a broader term for removing wastes from the body, while ingestion and absorption describe taking in and absorbing nutrients, not expelling waste.