Fecal

Fecal is an adjective relating to feces, the solid or semisolid material discharged from the digestive tract. The term derives from Latin faeces. In clinical and scientific contexts, feces are often referred to as stool.

In humans, feces are formed in the colon as water and electrolytes are absorbed. The typical composition includes water, inorganic matter, bacteria, undigested dietary fiber, protein breakdown products, bile pigments such as stercobilin, and mucus. The color and consistency are influenced by diet, transit time, and microbial activity, with brown to green hues common.

Fecal analysis is used in medicine to diagnose infections and malabsorption, among other conditions. Tests include fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) for gastrointestinal bleeding; stool culture to detect bacterial pathogens; stool ova and parasite examination for parasitic infections; fecal fat tests for fat malabsorption; and fecal calprotectin as a biomarker of intestinal inflammation.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a therapeutic procedure in which processed fecal matter from a healthy donor is introduced into a recipient’s gut to restore a balanced microbiome, most notably for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.

Safe handling, hygiene, and sanitation are important because feces can transmit pathogens. Proper waste management and sanitation practices help minimize the risk of disease transmission.