Is Poop a Bodily Fluid? Get the Facts on Feces

Smelly, gross, and downright nasty – we’ve all encountered poop in some unsavory situations. As unpleasant as it is, dealing with poop is simply part of life. But have you ever wondered – is poop actually considered a bodily fluid?

It’s a fair question. After all, poop exits our bodies as a semi-solid substance. Yet it also contains liquid. So where does poop fit in when it comes to bodily fluids? As it turns out, the experts say no – feces are not classified as bodily fluids.

Bodily fluids like blood, sweat, saliva and urine are excreted or secreted by the body. Poop, on the other hand, is the solid waste that’s discharged from your intestines during defecation. So while poop contains some fluid, it’s not considered a true bodily fluid.

Even so, dealing with poop requires the same precautions as other bodily substances. Proper handling and disposal of feces is critical for preventing the spread of contagious diseases and infection.

In this article, we’ll explore the science behind poop – what it’s made of, how it’s created and eliminated from your body, and best practices for handling it. We’ll also look at some surprising facts about poop that may change the way you view this taboo topic. So let’s dive in to the dirty details!

What Are Bodily Fluids?

Bodily fluids refer to liquids secreted or excreted by the body. The major types include:

Blood – The red liquid that circulates through the body’s arteries and veins. It carries oxygen and nutrients while removing waste.
Urine – A liquid produced by the kidneys that contains water, salts, and waste products filtered from the blood. It’s stored in the bladder before being excreted.
Sweat – A salty liquid secreted by sweat glands in the skin that helps regulate body temperature.
Saliva – A watery substance produced in the mouth that lubricates food and starts the digestion process.
Tears – A salty fluid secreted by tear glands that lubricates and protects the eyes.
Mucus – A viscous, slippery secretion that moisturizes and protects mucous membranes in areas like the nasal passages.

So in summary, bodily fluids are liquids inside or expelled from the body. They have important roles related to health, digestion, reproduction and temperature regulation.

What Exactly Is Poop?

In contrast to bodily fluids, feces are the solid waste your body expels during defecation. Poop is comprised of:

Undigested food – Fiber, cellulose, and some starches aren’t broken down during digestion.
Bacteria – Billions of bacteria in the gut aid digestion and defecation.
Inorganic salts – Like phosphates, sulfates, and carbonates.
Changed digestive juices and cells – Mucus, bile salts, and discarded cells line feces.
Water – Gives poop its characteristic moist, soft texture.

So while poop contains some liquid, it’s classified as a semi-solid substance rather than a bodily fluid. The water concentration can range from 75-85%, with the rest comprising solid matter.

Diarrhea occurs when the water content exceeds 85%, giving poop a loose, fluid consistency. But it’s still not considered true bodily fluid even in diarrhea because it derives from the intestines.

Why Isn’t Poop Considered a Bodily Fluid?

Given that poop contains liquid and exits the body, it’s reasonable to wonder why it’s not categorized as a bodily fluid. There are two main reasons:

1. Poop is secreted by the intestines, not glands.

True bodily fluids are produced by glands throughout the body. For instance, mucus derives from mucous glands, and saliva comes from salivary glands.

Poop is secreted by the intestinal lining as part of digestion. The small intestine absorbs water and nutrients from food waste, while the large intestine compacts what’s left into feces.

So poop results from a mechanical digestive process rather than active secretion by glands. This key difference is why poop isn’t classified as a true bodily fluid.

2. Poop is primarily solid rather than liquid.

As outlined earlier, bodily fluids are defined as liquids inside and excreted from the body.

While poop contains some water, it’s still solid in form. The liquid is bound up in the digested food waste and intestinal cells that make up feces.

So again, the primarily solid physical form of poop is a major factor in excluding it from the bodily fluid category.

When Is Poop Treated Like a Bodily Fluid?

While poop technically isn’t a bodily fluid, it shares some similarities and requires similar precautions.

In certain settings like hospitals, feces are handled as carefully as other bodily secretions:

Staff wears PPE when handling bedpans and changing diapers
Feces are safely contained and disposed of
Surfaces are disinfected after contact with poop

Treating poop like a bodily fluid helps prevent communicable diseases from spreading. Pathogens that cause hepatitis, salmonella and norovirus can all be transmitted via the fecal-oral route.

So universal precautions applied to body fluids are also wise when handling feces, even though it’s not clinically deemed a fluid.

Surprising Poop Facts

While poop’s status as a solid rather than fluid is established, there are still some wild facts about feces most people don’t realize:

Poop transplants are an effective treatment for stubborn bacterial infections like C. difficile.
Fossilized feces from early humans provide insights on prehistoric diets and gut microbiomes.
NASA studies astronaut poop to engineer waste management systems for spaceflight.
Animal dung like guano aids biodiversity through seed dispersal and fertilization.
Doctors analyze stool to screen for cancer, infections, and digestive issues.
Pale stool can indicate a blocked bile duct or missing gut bacteria.
Bowel movements shift during pregnancy as progesterone slows digestion.
The digestive tract is sterile until bacteria colonize an infant’s gut after birth.
Undigested sweet corn kernels in poop indicate a lack of bile salts for digestion.
Diarrhea removes excess water from inflamed intestinal tissues to aid healing.

The Bottom Line on Poop

When it comes down to it, poop is defined as a semi-solid waste product rather than a liquid bodily fluid. But it still requires safe handling like any other bodily secretion.

Hopefully this post answered common questions about whether feces qualify as a bodily fluid. Poop may not be pretty, but it’s a fascinating substance crucial to the digestive process.

The next time you feel the urge to go, remember you’re contributing to the circle of life! Just be sure to wash your hands after.