The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Physiology & Medicine
  4. How do bowels transport gas separately from solids?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

How do bowels transport gas separately from solids?

  • 4 Replies
  • 2331 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Thommo (OP)

  • First timers
  • *
  • 5
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
How do bowels transport gas separately from solids?
« on: 07/11/2015 11:36:30 »
I do like a couple of real ales, but subsequently suffer from their flatulent effect on me.  On the up side, it does make me marvel at the ability of my bowels to separate the gas from solids, and transport it against gravity (which would be expected to pull the heavier solids down first) to my anus to be released.

How do bowels do this?
Can the process be mimicked with a manmade system? Would he ability to separate gas from solid and transport it separately within a single closed tube have a scientific or engineering application?
Logged
 



Offline chiralSPO

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 3144
  • Activity:
    27%
  • Thanked: 392 times
    • View Profile
Re: How do bowels transport gas separately from solids?
« Reply #1 on: 07/11/2015 14:05:28 »
As I understand it, the issue is gas moving from high pressure to low pressure, and the fact that it is going down and out is not really going "against gravity." Just as air escapes from the open end of an inflated balloon no matter what direction it is pointed in.

I am not really sure of the mechanism of the separation, but as long as the intestine isn't completely blocked off (air-tight), the gases probably have higher mobility than the solids. Then it is a simple matter of the intestines being able to effectively close off at the top, and open enough at the bottom periodically to allow pressure to release.
Logged
 
The following users thanked this post: Thommo

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 7650
  • Activity:
    27.5%
  • Thanked: 751 times
    • View Profile
Re: How do bowels transport gas separately from solids?
« Reply #2 on: 07/11/2015 21:12:00 »
Transportation of solids through the intestines & bowel is caused by rhythmic muscle contractions.
Gas transport requires no such muscle effort.
Logged
 

Offline Thommo (OP)

  • First timers
  • *
  • 5
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: How do bowels transport gas separately from solids?
« Reply #3 on: 08/11/2015 18:18:14 »
Quote from: chiralSPO on 07/11/2015 14:05:28
the issue is gas moving from high pressure to low pressure,

Surely, within the bowels, the gas pressure will be equal when the anal sphincter is closed; the pressure differential is caused when the sphincter is open (like in the balloon analogy).  That being the case, there is nothing to cause the gas to collect at the sphincter.   There could be an argument that the solids prevent easy gas flow, and so maintain the pressure differential, but then there is again no reason for the gas to collect at the sphincter, and not merely push the solids towards the sphincter.
Logged
 

Offline Thommo (OP)

  • First timers
  • *
  • 5
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: How do bowels transport gas separately from solids?
« Reply #4 on: 26/06/2016 16:45:13 »
I tried an experiment with a balloon, and the air doesn't flow out without forcing the solids out: https://   
m.youtube.com/watch?v=0cYjR3RimRY
Well, sometimes a little route opens out, allowing air out, but clearly this isn't how the bowels work, otherwise farting would be a very messy business!
Logged
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 

Similar topics (5)

why can sound waves go through some solids that light waves can't?

Started by annie123Board Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

Replies: 19
Views: 8333
Last post 20/02/2013 08:09:33
by yor_on
Could we use discarded plastic bags to store and transport fresh water as ice?

Started by birdzoomBoard General Science

Replies: 4
Views: 3596
Last post 20/01/2011 13:07:50
by Don_1
Should I disable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) in Firefox?

Started by tkadm30Board Geek Speak

Replies: 4
Views: 2104
Last post 20/05/2017 23:29:34
by tkadm30
What plays a critical role in the plant transport system?

Started by The ScientistBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 0
Views: 2014
Last post 02/07/2010 16:38:02
by The Scientist
How much carbon was released by the alternative transport when planes were grounded?

Started by @jlieblingBoard The Environment

Replies: 1
Views: 2605
Last post 05/11/2010 13:40:05
by SteveFish
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.167 seconds with 48 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.