Flatulence: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Bodily function of expelling intestinal gas from the anus}}

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| name = Flatulence

| synonyms = Farting, breaking wind, passing gas, cutting the cheese, cutting one loose, ripping one, tooting <!-- enough; everyone has a term for it -->

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Flatus is brought to the [[rectum]] and pressurized by [[peristalsis|muscles]] in the intestines. It is normal to pass flatus ("to fart"), though volume and frequency vary greatly among individuals. It is also normal for intestinal gas to have a [[Feces|feculent]] or unpleasant odor, which may be intense. The noise commonly associated with flatulence is produced by the [[external anal sphincter|anus]] and [[gluteus maximus|buttocks]], which act together in a manner similar to that of an [[embouchure]]. Both the sound and odor are sources of [[embarrassment]], annoyance or amusement ([[flatulence humor]]). In many societies, flatus is a [[taboo]]. Thus, many people either let their flatus out quietly or even hold it completely.<ref>[https://www.wikihow.com/Fart-Quietly wikihow.com], retrieved 19 February 2023.</ref><ref>[https://soranews24.com/2018/10/09/how-often-do-japanese-people-rip-silent-farts-survey-investigates/ soranews.com], retrieved 19 February 2023.</ref> However, holding the gases inside is not healthy.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/51965/ | pmid=51965 | year=1975 | last1=Wynne-Jones | first1=G. | title=Flatus retention is the major factor in diverticular disease | journal=Lancet | volume=2 | issue=7927 | pages=211–212 | doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(75)90677-7 | s2cid=9443068 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/let-your-flatulence-fly-scientists-urge-passengers-flna1C8431651 'Let your flatulence fly, scientists urge passengers'], retrieved 7 March 2023, based upon [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23463112/ ''Flatulence on airplanes: just let it go'']</ref>

 

==Terminology==

Non-medical definitions of the term include "the uncomfortable condition of having gas in the stomach and bowels", or "a state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal". These definitions highlight that many people consider "bloating", [[abdominal distension]] or increased volume of intestinal gas, to be synonymous with the term flatulence (although this is technically inaccurate).

 

 

===Odor===

 

===Incontinence of flatus===

 

==Cause==

 

 

In beans, endogenous gases seem to arise from complex oligosaccharides ([[carbohydrate]]s) that are particularly resistant to digestion by mammals, but are readily digestible by [[microorganisms]] ([[methanogenesis|methane-producing]] archaea; ''[[Methanobrevibacter smithii]]'') that inhabit the [[digestive tract]]. These oligosaccharides pass through the small intestine largely unchanged, and when they reach the large intestine, [[bacteria]] ferment them, producing copious amounts of flatus.<ref name="McGee">{{cite book| last=McGee| first=Harold |author-link=Harold McGee |title=On Food and Cooking| publisher=[[Charles Scribner's Sons|Scribner]] | year=1984| isbn=0-684-84328-5| pages=257–58| title-link=On Food and Cooking }}</ref>

 

===Production, composition, and odor===

 

 

 

The remaining trace (<1% volume) compounds contribute to the odor of flatus. Historically, compounds such as [[indole]], [[skatole]], [[ammonia]] and [[short chain fatty acids]] were thought to cause the odor of flatus. More recent evidence proves that the major contribution to the odor of flatus comes from a combination of volatile [[sulfur]] compounds.<ref name="Tangerman 2009" /><ref name="Suarez 1998">{{cite journal |last=Suarez |first=FL |author2=Springfield, J |author3=Levitt, MD |title=Identification of gases responsible for the odour of human flatus and evaluation of a device purported to reduce this odour |journal=[[Gut (journal)|Gut]] |date=July 1998 |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=100–04 |pmid=9771412 |pmc=1727181 |doi=10.1136/gut.43.1.100}}</ref> [[Hydrogen sulfide]], [[methyl mercaptan]] (also known as [[methanethiol]]), [[dimethyl sulfide]], [[dimethyl disulfide]] and [[dimethyl trisulfide]] are present in flatus. The benzopyrrole volatiles [[indole]] and [[skatole]] have an odor of mothballs, <!-- <ref name="Moore 1987" /> ref name not defined--> and therefore probably do not contribute greatly to the characteristic odor of flatus.

Researchers investigating the role of sensory nerve endings in the anal canal did not find them to be essential for retaining fluids in the anus, and instead speculate that their role may be to distinguish between flatus and faeces, thereby helping detect a need to defecate or to signal the end of defecation.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Read, M. G. |author2=Read, N. W. |title=Role of anorectal sensation in preserving continence |journal=[[Gut (journal)|Gut]] |year=1982 |volume=23 |pages=345–47 |doi=10.1136/gut.23.4.345 |pmid=7076012 |pmc=1419736|issue=4}}</ref>

 

 

==Management==

'''Bismuth'''

 

Another bismuth compound, bismuth subnitrate was also shown to bind to hydrogen sulfide.<ref name="Levitt 2002">{{cite journal |last=Levitt |first=MD |author2=Springfield, J |author3=Furne, J |author4=Koenig, T |author5= Suarez, FL |title=Physiology of sulfide in the rat colon: use of bismuth to assess colonic sulfide production |journal=[[Journal of Applied Physiology]] |date=April 2002 |volume=92 |issue=4 |pages=1655–60 |pmid=11896034 |doi=10.1152/japplphysiol.00907.2001|s2cid=37217656 }}</ref> Another study showed that bismuth acted synergistically with various antibiotics to inhibit sulfate-reducing gut bacteria and sulfide production.<ref name="Ohge 2003">{{cite journal |last=Ohge |first=H |author2=Furne, JK |author3=Springfield, J |author4=Sueda, T |author5=Madoff, RD |author6= Levitt, MD |title=The effect of antibiotics and bismuth on fecal hydrogen sulfide and sulfate-reducing bacteria in the rat |journal=[[FEMS Microbiology Letters]] |date=November 7, 2003 |volume=228 |issue=1 |pages=137–42|pmid=14612249 |doi=10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00748-1|doi-access=free }}</ref> Some authors proposed a theory that hydrogen sulfide was involved in the development of [[ulcerative colitis]] and that bismuth might be helpful in the management of this condition.<ref name="Furne 2000">{{cite journal |last=Furne |first=JK |author2=Suarez, FL |author3=Ewing, SL |author4=Springfield, J |author5= Levitt, MD |title=Binding of hydrogen sulfide by bismuth does not prevent dextran sulfate-induced colitis in rats |journal=[[Digestive Diseases and Sciences]] |date=July 2000 |volume=45 |issue=7 |pages=1439–43 |pmid=10961726|doi=10.1023/A:1005580709390 |s2cid=740767 }}</ref> However, bismuth administration in rats did not prevent them from developing ulcerative colitis despite reduced hydrogen sulfide production.<ref name="Furne 2000" /> Also, evidence suggests that colonic hydrogen sulfide is largely present in bound forms, probably sulfides of iron and other metals.<ref name="Tangerman 2009" /> Rarely, serious bismuth toxicity may occur with higher doses.<ref name="Gordon 1995">{{cite journal |last=Gordon |first=MF |author2=Abrams, RI |author3=Rubin, DB |author4=Barr, WB |author5= Correa, DD |title=Bismuth subsalicylate toxicity as a cause of prolonged encephalopathy with myoclonus |journal=[[Movement Disorders (journal)|Movement Disorders]] |date=March 1995 |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=220–22 |pmid=7753066 |doi=10.1002/mds.870100215|s2cid=11723220 }}</ref>

 

'''Garments and external devices'''

 

 

 

===Incontinence===

==Society and culture==

[[File:Hegassen scroll segment 33.jpg|thumb|''[[He-gassen]]'' (detail), an art scroll depicting a battle of flatulence, from Japan during the [[Edo period]]]]

 

While the act of passing flatus in some cultures is generally considered to be an unfortunate occurrence in public settings, flatulence may, in casual circumstances and especially among children, be used as either a humorous supplement to a joke ("pull my finger"), or as a comic activity in and of itself. The social acceptability of flatulence-based humour in entertainment and the mass media varies over the course of time and between cultures. A sufficient number of entertainers have performed using their flatus to lead to the coining of the term [[flatulist]]. The [[whoopee cushion]] is a joking device invented in the early 20th century for simulating a fart. In 2008, a farting application for the [[iPhone]] earned nearly $10,000 in one day.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/12/iphone-fart-app/ |title=iPhone Fart App Rakes in $10,000 a Day |last=Chen |first=Brian X. |date=December 24, 2008 |work=[[Wired News]]}}</ref>

{{Main|Flatulist}}

 

 

[[Le Pétomane]] ("the Fartomaniac") was a famous French performer in the 19th century who, as well as many [[Flatulist|professional farter]]s before him, did flatulence impressions and held shows. The performer [[Mr. Methane]] carries on le Pétomane's tradition today. Also, a 2002 fiction film ''[[Thunderpants]]'' revolves around a boy named Patrick Smash who has an ongoing flatulence problem from the time of his birth.<ref>{{Citation |last=Hewitt |first=Peter |title=Thunderpants |date=2002-05-24 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283054/ |type=Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi |publisher=CP Medien AG, Mission Pictures, Pathé Pictures International |access-date=2022-09-08}}</ref>

 

Since the 1970s, farting has increasingly been featured in film, especially comedies such as ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'' and ''[[Scooby-Doo (film)|Scooby-Doo]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Scooby-Doo (5/10) Movie CLIP - Burping and Farting (2002) HD |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgYr00Scelc |language=en |access-date=2022-09-08}}</ref>

 

==Personal experiences==

=== General and cited references ===

* Allen, V. (2007). ''On Farting: Language and Laughter in the Middle Ages''. Palgrave MacMillan. {{ISBN|978-0-312-23493-5}}.

* {{cite book | author = Dawson, Jim | title = Who Cut the Cheese?: A Cultural History of the Fart | publisher = Ten Speed Press | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-58008-011-1 }}

* {{cite book | author = Dawson, Jim | title = Blame it on the Dog: A Modern History of the Fart | publisher = Ten Speed Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 1-58008-751-5 }}

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