is the presence of a mixture of
Gas es known as '''flatus''' produced by
Symbiotic Bacteria and
Yeast s living in the
Gastrointestinal Tract of
Mammal s. Flatulence is released under
Pressure through the
Anus , often with a characteristic
Sound and offensive
Odor . Releasing flatulence is colloquially known as
Fart ing.
The average human releases 0.5 to 1.5 of other components (often
Sulphur containing, see below).
. The gas released during a flatus event frequently has a foul odor which mainly results from low
Molecular Weight Fatty Acids such as
Butyric Acid (
Rancid Butter smell) and
Reduced Sulfur compounds such as
Hydrogen Sulfide (rotten egg smell) and
Carbonyl Sulfide that are the result of
Protein breakdown. The incidence of odoriferous compounds in flatus increases from
Herbivores , such as
Cattle , to
Omnivores to
Carnivorous Species , such as
Cat s. Flatulence odor can also occur when there is a number of
Bacteria and/or feces in the
Anus while being expelled.
Intestinal gas is composed of 90% exogenous sources (air that is ingested through the nose and mouth) and 10% endogenous sources (gas produced within the digestive tract). The exogenous gases are swallowed (
Aerophagia ) when eating or drinking or during times of excessive salivation (as might occur when nauseated or as the result of
Gastroesophageal Reflux disease). The
Endogenous gases are produced as a by-product of digesting certain types of
Food . Flatulence producing foods are typically high in
Polysaccharide s (especially
Oligosaccharides such as
Inulin ) and include beans, milk, onions, sweet potatoes, cheese, cashews, broccoli, cabbage,
Jerusalem Artichoke s, oats, yeast in breads, etc.
In beans, endogenous gases seem to arise from
Oligosaccharide s,
Carbohydrate s that are resistant to digestion. These pass through the upper
Intestine largely unchanged, and when they reach the lower
Intestine ,
Bacteria feed on them, producing copious amounts of flatus (McGee 1984 pp.257–8).
In the case of those with
Lactose Intolerance , intestinal
Bacteria feeding on
Lactose can give rise to excessive gas production when
Milk or lactose-containing substances have been consumed.
Interest in the causes of flatulence was spurred by high-altitude
Flight and the
Space Program ; the low
Atmospheric Pressure , confined conditions, and stresses peculiar to those endeavours were cause for concern (McGee, 1984 pp.257–8).
The
Noise s commonly associated with flatulence are caused by the
Vibration of the
Anal opening. The sound varies depending on the tightness of the
Sphincter Muscle and
Velocity of the
Gas being propelled, as well as other factors such as
Moisture and body
Fat . The pitch of the flatulence outburst can also be affected by the anal
Embouchure .
Flatus is brought to the anus in the same
Peristalsis method as
Feces , causing a similar feeling of urgency and discomfort. Nerve endings in the rectum learn to distinguish between flatus and
Feces , although loose
Stool can confuse these
Nerves , and sometimes results in accidental defecation.
Certain also breaks down oligosaccharides, which is why fermented bean products such as
Miso and
Tofu are less likely to produce as much intestinal gas.
Probiotic s (
Yogurt ,
Kefir etc.) often reduce flatulence when they are used to restore balance to the normal intestinal flora.
Prebiotics , which generally are non-digestible oligosaccharides, such as
FOS , generally increase flatulence in a similar way as described for lactose intolerance.
Medicinal
Charcoal tablets have also been reported as effective in reducing both odor and quantity of flatus when taken immediately prior to food that is likely to cause flatulence later.
Alpha-galactosidase (brands
Beano , Bean-zyme),
Lactase (brand Lactaid),
Amylase ,
Lipase ,
Protease ,
Cellulase ,
Glucomylase ,
Invertase ,
Malt Diastase ,
Pectinase , and
Bromelain are available, either individually or in combination blends, in commercial products.
The
Antibiotic Rifaximin , often used to treat
Diarrhea caused by the
Microorganism E. Coli , has been shown to reduce both the production of intestinal gas and the frequency of flatus eventsDi Stefano M, Strocchi A, Malservisi S, Veneto G, Ferrieri A, Corazza GR. "Non-absorbable antibiotics for managing intestinal gas production and gas-related symptoms." Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2000;14:1001-1008..
While not affecting the production of the gases themselves,
Surfactants (agents which lower
Surface Tension ) can reduce the disagreeable sensations associated with flatulence, by aiding the dissolution of the gases into liquid and solid fecal matter.
Often it is helpful to ingest small quantities of acidic liquids with meals, such as lemon juice or vinegar, to stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid, which in turn increases enzyme production. This facilitates digestion and may limit gas production.
As a normal body function, the action of flatulence is an important signal of normal
Bowel activity and hence is often documented by nursing staff following surgical or other treatment of patients. However, symptoms of excessive flatulence
can indicate the presence of
Irritable Bowel Syndrome or some other organic
Disease . In particular, the sudden occurrence of excessive flatulence together with the onset of new symptoms provide reason for seeking further medical examination.
There is no particular harm to come from holding in flatus. Flatulence is not
Poisonous ; it is a natural component of various intestinal contents. However, discomfort may develop from the build-up of gas pressure. In theory, pathological distension of the bowel, leading to
Constipation , could result if a person holds in flatus.
Not all flatus is released from the body via the anus. When the
Partial Pressure of any gas component of the intestinal
Lumen is higher than its partial pressure in the
Blood , that component enters into the bloodstream of the intestinal wall by the process of
Diffusion . As the blood passes through the
Lungs this gas can diffuse back out of the blood and be exhaled. If a person holds in flatulence during daytime, it will often be released during sleep when the body is relaxed. Some flatus can become trapped within the feces during its compaction and will exit the body, still contained within the fecal matter, during the process of
Defecation .
The term meteorism is defined as the presence of gas within the
Abdomen or intestines. However, it is sometimes also used to describe the condition of excessive flatulence. Since subjective judgements vary considerably about what constitutes normal and elevated levels of flatulence, medical personnel sometimes instruct a patient complaining about excessive flatulence to maintain a personal flatulence diary. Researchers studying flatulence have also developed what is called a flatulogram. Its horizontal axis represents time (typically 24 hours, with each hour being marked on the time line). The subject is instructed to make a pencil mark on this line at each point in time that they notice flatus passing through the anus. The acoustic volume of the event is indicated by the vertical distance that the pencil mark rises above the time line. Inaudible events are indicated by a short mark that extends only below the time line.
contribute approximately 14% of that country's greenhouse gas emissions
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In many
Culture s, excessive human flatulence is regarded as embarrassing and impolite, even to the point of being a
Taboo subject; and hence a natural subject for
Toilet Humour .
People will often strain to hold in the passing of gas when in polite company, or position themselves to conceal the noise and smell.
Flatulence can be considered humorous to some people, either due to the foul smell or the sounds produced. Some find humor in
Flatulence Ignition , which is possible due to the presence of flammable gases such as hydrogen and methane, though the process can result in burn injuries to the rectum and anus.
Flatulence has had a role in literature for centuries. In
Rabelais ' 16th century ''
Gargantua '' cycle, the word ''pet'' (fart) appears several times.
In the video game and anime series of
Monster Rancher , the character,
Hare is known to be flatulent and use an attack called "Gas." The attack, "Gas" is when Hare flatulates at his enemy. The smell knocks out the person nearly instantly, as seen in
Hare's Trick .
The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco by
John Birmingham opens with the line 'Aristotle said that if you hold your farts in, you die.'
In the translated version of Penguin's ''1001
Arabian Nights Tales'', a story titled "The Historic Fart" tells of a man that flees his country from the sheer embarrassment of farting at his wedding.
In
Dante 's ''
Divine Comedy '', the last line of Inferno Chapter XXI reads: ''ed elli avea del cul fatto trombetta'' ("and he used his buttocks as a trumpet"), in the last example the use of this natural body function underlined a demoniac condition.
In
Chaucer 's "
Miller's Tale " (one of the ''
Canterbury Tales ''), the character Nicholas hangs his buttocks out of a window and flatulates in the face of his rival Absolom. Absolom then sears Nicholas's bum with a red-hot poker ("Nicholas quickly raised the window and thrust his ass far out...At this Nicholas let fly a fart with a noise as great as a clap of thunder, so that Absolom was almost overcome by the force of it. But he was ready with his hot iron and smote Nicholas in the middle of his ass."). (Lines 690–707).
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In
Emile Zola 's ''La Terre'' (the 15th volume of the series
Les Rougon-Macquart ), the eldest Fouan son can flatulate at will and keeps winning free drinks by betting on his skill.
The
Walter The Farting Dog series of children's books by
William Kotzwinkle with Glenn Murray feature a flatulent dog as a central comedic element.
In the cinema, flatulating has been featured in films intended for adult audiences such as ''
Blazing Saddles '' as well as children's films such as ''
The Lion King '' and ''
Thunderpants ''.
Flatulating is no longer summarily censored from television broadcasts in the
United States . During the telecast of
Super Bowl XXXVIII , a beer advertisement featured a horse passing gas.
In the TV series ''
South Park '', the in-series TV show ''
Terrance And Phillip '' features two Canadian boys of the show's namesake who rely mostly on flatulence for their humor.
''
The Gas We Pass '' (ISBN 0916291529) is a popular children's book in the United States about flatulence.
Beans Beans The Magical Fruit... is a popular children's song about
Bean s and their capacity to cause flatulence.
An episode of ''
Mythbusters '' featured myths about flatulence and determined the chemical composition of a typical flatus.
- Le Petomane "the Fartiste" a famous French performer in the 19th Century as well as many Professional Farter s before him did flatulence impressions and held shows.
- Emperor Claudius passed a law legalizing flatulating at banquets out of concern for people's health. There was a widespread misconception that a person could be poisoned by retaining flatulence.
- In August 2005 , '' New Scientist '' magazine reported that inventors Michael Zanakis and Philip Femano had been awarded a US patent () for a "toy gas-fired missile and launcher assembly". The abstract of the patent makes it clear that this is, in fact, a fart-powered Rocket :
- :"A ... missile is composed of a soft head and a tail extending therefrom formed by a piston. The piston is telescoped into the barrel of a launcher having a closed end on which is mounted an electrically activated igniter, the air space between the end of the piston and the closed end of the barrel defining a combustion chamber. Joined to the barrel, and communicating with the chamber therein, is a gas intake tube having a normally closed inlet valve. To operate the assembly, the operator places the inlet tube with its valve open adjacent {Link without Title} his anal region, from which a colonic gas is discharged. The piston is then withdrawn to a degree producing a negative pressure to inhale the gas into the combustion chamber to intermix with the air therein to create a combustible mixture. The igniter is then activated to explode the mixture in the chamber and fire the missile into space."
- British inventors have also patented fart-related ideas, such as "A fart collecting device," which includes a drawing of the invention deployed and ready for action, with helpful numbers to identify the various components. "It comprises a gas-tight collecting tube 10 for insertion into the rectum of the subject. The tube 10 is connected to a gas-tight collecting bag (not shown). The end of the tube inserted into the subject is apertured and covered with a gauze filter and a gas permeable bladder 28."
- Mambo Graphics , an Australian surfwear label, features the iconic "Farting Dog" design {Link without Title} in its lineup. Here the flatulence is depicted as a musical note emanating from the dog's backside.
