Feces: Form and Consistency of Feces

Normal feces

The shape of the stool should reflect that of the colon / rectum, ideally approaching a cylinder fifteen centimeters long and often four. The consistency of the faeces, on the other hand, should be soft, almost soft.

Feces that are too hard and dry, watery, slimy, ribbon-like or thread-like, floating, with balls or with traces of mucus or blood, are a clear sign that something has not worked properly during the digestive processes.

Now let's see how to interpret the changes in shape and consistency of the stools, while as regards the presence of blood, mucus and chromatic alterations we refer to the related in-depth information listed below in the "Related Articles" section.

Did you know that ... 75% of the total faeces weight is given by water.

Consistency and form

The consistency and shape of the faeces depend above all on their content in water, which in turn is inversely proportional to the time spent in the colon; the more this factor increases, thus moving towards constipation, and the greater the quantity of water reabsorbed by the faeces, which gradually become more arid and hard, until they resemble marbles. Based on these assumptions, the appearance of the faeces can be compared with the seven different types that make up the famous Bristol scale:

Feces in balls, goat feces, I made a scibala

Separate and hard nodules, like walnuts, difficult to evacuate except with a lot of effort. It may indicate insufficient consumption of fiber (fruit and vegetables) and liquids.

Sausage-shaped feces, knotty

Separate and hard nodules, like walnuts. The most common reasons are the same as in the previous case.

Sausage stools, with surface cracks

Probably due to insufficient consumption of liquids, which will therefore have to be increased.

Soft feces in the shape of a sausage or snake

They eject easily and leave a feeling of complete emptying.

Soft fragments with well-defined edges

Excessive intestinal motility, with incomplete fluid reabsorption. Also in this case and in the following ones it can be helpful to increase fiber consumption.

Soft fragments, with jagged edges

Mashed stools; they can be caused by large, fat-rich meals and too rapid intestinal transit with insufficient fluid reabsorption (see: malabsorption).

Watery stools, without solid pieces

Feces evacuated too easily. In many cases I am a spy on intestinal infections or major diseases of the pancreas or intestines.

DEEPENING ARTICLES:

The characteristics highlighted in the table, also because of the few characters available, are obviously indicative and completely incomplete. Fortunately, in most cases the changes in the shape and appearance of the stools are completely separated from any pathological condition. Despite this, without triggering dangerous alarms, it is important to underline the importance of contacting your doctor whenever you notice an important variation of these characteristics, especially when the anomaly appears suddenly and lasts a long time:

• thin, ribbon-like stools : they can be caused by an obstruction or a stricture (narrowing) of the intestine. Unfortunately, even a polyp, a neoplasm, or a colon cancer may underlie these conditions.
• Floating stools, associated with episodes of intermittent diarrhea: the phenomenon of buoyancy is due to the excessive presence of gas, caused by the metabolization of food residues absorbed by intestinal bacteria.

  It is therefore a typical condition of food intolerances, such as lactose, gluten (see celiac disease), malabsorption syndromes in general, but also inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.

Medical consultation should be sought as soon as possible, especially when changes in the shape and consistency of the stools are accompanied by vomiting, more or less high fever, chills, fatigue and general malaise, rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin and / or major abdominal pain.