Flatulence: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:06, 10 November 2005

Revision as of 10:07, 10 November 2005

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The primary constituents of flatulence (collectively known as ''flatus'') are the non-odorous gases [[nitrogen]] (ingested), [[oxygen]] (ingested), [[methane]] (produced by [[anaerobic organism|anaerobic microbe]]s), [[carbon dioxide]] (produced by [[aerobic organism|aerobic microbe]]s or ingested), and [[hydrogen]] (produced by some microbes and consumed by others). Odors result from trace amounts of other components (often sulphur containing, see below).

[[Nitrogen]] is the primary gas released. While methane is popularly associated with flatulence, evidence suggests that two-thirds of all humans do not release methane at all in their flatulence. Methane and hydrogen are flammable, and so some flatulence is susceptible to catching fire. Gas released mostly has a foul [[odor]] which mainly results from low molecular weight fatty acids such as [[butyric acid]] ([[Rancidity|rancid]] [[butter]] smell) and reduced [[sulfur]] compounds such as [[hydrogen sulfide]] (rotten egg smell) and [[carbon disulfide|carbonyl sulfide]] that are the result of [[protein]] breakdown. The incidence of odiferous compounds in flatus increases from herbivores, such as cattle, to omnivores to carnivorous species, such as cats.

Aerosolized particles of feces are also present in flatus, though in miniscule amounts.