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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 30 general entries.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Digestive System and Metabolism
| Most fart gas is formed in what part of the digestive tract? | The Fart Quiz
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large intestine. The large intestine (colon) contains many different kinds of bacteria which break down undigested material. The gas is a by-product of this bacterial action. Although all of the information within this tongue-in-cheek quiz is factual, and based upon established medical facts, the quiz was written primarily for the purpose of providing a good laugh. I believe that this hilarious bodily function, farting, is God's way of providing us with cost-free, tax-free entertainment in its purest form. I suspect that the Queen Mother even chortled occasionally when the tiny bubbles burst at the surface of her bath water. I hope you've learned a bit about farts, but more importantly, I hope this quiz has added a chuckle to what might have been an otherwise ordinary day.
| How much fart gas does the average human adult produce in one day? | The Fart Quiz
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about a gallon. According to www.newscientist.com, the average adult produces "about 4 to 5 litres" of gas in a day, or about a gallon. I once had a college roommate whom I am certain produced closer to 50 gallons a day, but he wasn't average. His persistent, horrible-smelling, thunderous farts are now subject of fraternity folklore.
| How do we know we need to pass gas (as opposed to other material)? | The Fart Quiz
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special nerve endings in the rectal area. Our ability to differentiate between the need to fart and the need to do something more substantial is something that we unconsciously learn during early childhood. We have nerve endings in the rectal area that provide different sensations depending upon the rectum's contents. Occasionally, we are unsure, or are completely tricked... resulting in an embarrassing G&L. (By the way, about everyone knows that "SBD" means "silent, but deadly", but the term "G&L" is less commonly used. A G&L occurs when one feels an overwhelming need to release some gas... perhaps at the beginning of math class, staff meeting or church service. The situation becomes painful and the urge becomes acute. Sure there'll be a smell, but some careful planning and good acting will deflect the blame. The big question remains... "Is this really... just... gas?" Do you feel lucky? In order to alleviate the growing discomfort, you roll the dice... with only two possible outcomes... you release a pleasant fart... or... an unpleasant squirt. G&L stands for "gambled and lost".)
Benjamin Franklin. Founding father, scientist, inventor, politician, diplomat, philosopher, musician Benjamin Franklin is one of the most colorful men in American history. This likable, gregarious, eccentric fellow was also an author. This short book is a collection of Franklin's satirical wit and may have possibly been written more for his own amusement than for any other reason. Readers will be treated to a peek inside this great man's complex mind, but no fart jokes or potty humor. (Author's Note: I am amused that this book is evidence that the word "fart" was used two centuries ago with the same connotation that it is today. The word is not a recent addition to American English slang as many may believe.)
hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur-rich foods like cauliflower and eggs lead to the production of hydrogen sulfide, and thus smelly farts. Ammonia and other compounds also may contribute to the smell. Although these substances are the stinkiest, they are just a small part (usually less than 1%) of a fart's volume. Methane is a gas that is more commonly associated with a fart... It is highly flammable, but virtually odorless.
vibration created by gas passing through the anal sphincter. Under certain circumstances, like tight jeans or releasing a fart while seated naked on a vinyl chair, farts can make a sound by other means... but under most circumstances, a fart makes a noise due to vibration created by gas passing a tightly constricted sphincter. In some instances, the sphincter is sufficiently relaxed to allow passage of gas without audible resonance, resulting in an SBD (silent, but deadly... a fart that makes no sound, but packs an olfactory wallop).
| What is the proper name (i.e. non-slang dictionary term) for a fart? | The Fart Quiz
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flatus. According to the Random House College Dictionary, a flatus is "an accumulation of gas in the stomach, intestines, or other body cavity." Literal interpretation of this definition would seem to indicate that a fart is a flatus only until it is released. However, the term flatus is commonly used as a term for gas that has been expelled. Gastralgia is a scientific name for "stomach ache". I made the other two words up.
CABG. CABG is a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, it surgically creates new routes around narrowed and blocked arteries. LFT is a Liver Function Test for the presence of enzymes and bilirubin in serum. BE is xray images of the colon and rectum after injecting barium into the rectum, otherwise called a Barium Enema. EGD is the visual examination of the GI tract using an endoscope inserted in the mouth.
| What order of the large intestine sections are correct starting from the ileum and ending at the anus? | Digestive System 101
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cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum. Intussusception is telescoping of the intestines. It's a condition where one segment of the bowel(let's say the ileum)collapses into the opening of another segment(the cecum). This often occurs in children.
cecum. Cecum is part of the large intestine.
rhythm-like movement of the muscles in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. Peri- means surrounding, -stalsis means constriction.
pyloric sphincter. The pyloric sphincter joins the stomach to the duodenum.
ascites. Ascites can be treated with diuretics and paracentesis to remove the fluid buildup.
| Unfortunately, I forgot that I was allergic to granola bars and I started to vomit. What is the medical term for vomiting? | Enter the Digestive System!
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emesis. Vomiting is a useful tool that the body has in case it swallows something that is harmful.
| After excreting my waste, I noticed that I was hungry again. I grabbed a granola bar and started chewing on it. What is another term for chewing? | Enter the Digestive System!
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mastication. Chewing is a form of mechanical digestion for organisms. It substantially reduces the time needed for digestion of larger things.
| My food has reached the end of my digestive tract. It is now sitting in my rectum. However, "when nature calls," I will need to excrete my waste through my anus. What is another term for this "excretion process?" | Enter the Digestive System!
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defecation. Most of our digestive system is under involuntary control. Thankfully, defecation is semi-voluntary, otherwise... well, use your imagination.
| My food has now entered the large intestine. If I wanted to illuminate the colon on a x-ray, what chemical would I use? | Enter the Digestive System!
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Barium. Barium enemas and barium swallows are the two procedures that are most commonly used.
| Ok, my food is in the small intestine now, and its passing along millions of small hairlike projections called villi. It's on its journey through three sections of the small intestine. What are they in the right order? | Enter the Digestive System!
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duodenum, jejunum, ileum. Be very careful with ileum and ilium. The ileum is the third part of the small intestine. The ilium is part of the hip bone. Dow Jones Industrial is a good way to remember the order of the small intestine if you forget.
| Just before entering the small intestine, my food has to pass through the pyloric sphincter located just before the duodenum. What chamber of the stomach is my food in currently (The very last chamber of the stomach)? | Enter the Digestive System!
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pylorus. The pylorus is the actual chamber of the stomach. The pyloric sphincter slowly releases stomach contents into the small intestine for further digestion.
| My food is now being digested in the stomach. If I develop inflammation of my stomach, then would I call it stomatitis? | Enter the Digestive System!
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No. "Stomato" actually relates to the mouth. "Gastro" is what relates to the stomach. Thus, gastritis would be describe inflammation of the stomach.
| I've finished chewing my food and now I'm ready to swallow into my esophagus. At the top of my esophagus lies the epiglottis so that I don't choke. What force makes it so that when I am upside down, I can still swallow (and not have it come out of my mouth)? | Enter the Digestive System!
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peristalsis. Peristalsis is also responsible for the movement of digested products in your intestines.
| We begin our journey in the mouth. It houses the teeth and tongue, and is where we begin chewing our food. When we use our teeth, we know that there is enamel covering the teeth. Are we able to create more enamel if we lose some? | Enter the Digestive System!
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No. Enamel is not replaceable. If it degrades, then it is gone for good.
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