FECAL
ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 15
,PHYSIOLOGY
• Feces are the end product of digestion
• Final digestion occurs in the small intestine
aided by pancreatic enzymes and bile salts
• Majority of fluids involved in digestion are
reabsorbed, with only about 150 mL excreted in
feces
• Excess water reaching large intestine =
diarrhea
,
, DIARRHEA
• Definition: >200 g stool weight per day with
increased liquid and > 3 movements per day
• Mechanisms of diarrhea: secretory, osmotic,
altered motility
• Laboratory tests: fecal sodium, potassium,
osmolarity, and pH
• pH <5.6 indicates sugar malabsorption
• Sodium, potassium, osmolarity used to calculate fecal
osmotic gap
ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 15
,PHYSIOLOGY
• Feces are the end product of digestion
• Final digestion occurs in the small intestine
aided by pancreatic enzymes and bile salts
• Majority of fluids involved in digestion are
reabsorbed, with only about 150 mL excreted in
feces
• Excess water reaching large intestine =
diarrhea
,
, DIARRHEA
• Definition: >200 g stool weight per day with
increased liquid and > 3 movements per day
• Mechanisms of diarrhea: secretory, osmotic,
altered motility
• Laboratory tests: fecal sodium, potassium,
osmolarity, and pH
• pH <5.6 indicates sugar malabsorption
• Sodium, potassium, osmolarity used to calculate fecal
osmotic gap
