# The feces shape **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885 "2011-02-28T05:56:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/1 "2011-02-28T05:56:13Z")
Sorry for the semi-gross topic, but here it goes. When is the shape of a turd formed? Is it formed while in the organ or is it formed as it is being extruded through the anus? ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/2 "2011-02-28T05:57:38Z")
As a kid, I thought it was the former. I now believe it to be the latter. Much like making sausages. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/3 "2011-02-28T06:00:52Z")
Unless it’s type 1 on the [Bristol Scale](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_scale#Bristol_Stool_Chart), possibly also type 2. At least the first one isn’t an extruded shape. The second, I would describe as modified by extrusion. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/4 "2011-02-28T06:27:42Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > As a kid, I thought it was the former. I now believe it to be the latter. Much like making sausages. I heard shit was tapered so your ass doesn’t slam shut. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/5 "2011-02-28T06:37:55Z")
While the final shape may be formed on the way out - the type of shape that it may take is determined primarily by how much time is spent in the large intestine, where water is absorbed (because this determines how wet or dry the “end product” will be). ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/6 "2011-02-28T08:19:43Z")
Come to that, how come horses poop cubes? Do they have square assholes, or square colons (or both)? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/7 "2011-02-28T08:25:09Z")
You guys have the same shape all the time? I’m lucky if it has a shape. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/8 "2011-02-28T08:30:39Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Come to that, how come horses poop cubes? Do they have square assholes, or square colons (or both)? Those really aren’t cubes, more of a dinner-roll shape. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/9 "2011-02-28T09:35:26Z")
[I asked the same question here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=156726) (albeit concerned primarily with deer feces) about eight years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/10 "2011-02-28T11:01:42Z")
> [@CheeseDonkey](#): > > Sorry for the semi-gross topic, but here it goes. > > When is the shape of a turd formed? Is it formed while in the organ or is it formed as it is being extruded through the anus? This depends on factors such as the water and indigestible components of stool, the transit time through the lower bowel and the relative laxity of the anal sphincter. Stools with high water content (the colon helps regulate body water) and shorter transit times will be more pasty and their shape will be mostly determined by extrusion through the anal sphincter the way toothpaste is extruded through the nozzle. Stools that are drier (more “formed” as we say in the business) and have higher roughage content will have individual formed balls that look rolled up together if the anal sphincter is lax enough to pass them without too much deformation. The haustrae of the large intestine collect stool into little bunches and extract excess water from them (the colon helps regulate water). As the stool passes through it will retain the shape of those individual balls all compressed together. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/11 "2011-02-28T11:10:56Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Those really aren’t cubes, more of a dinner-roll shape. Presumably you are thinking of [this sort of dinner-roll](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_aBd0-UD7pGM/TSjGOfQb9mI/AAAAAAAAAAA/fiEPkwd5SOs/s1600/hawaiian%2Bdinner%2Brolls.jpg), not [this sort](http://www.itsfordinner.com/media/uploads/recipe/dinner-rolls/rolls-fully-baked_jpg_600x400_crop_q85.jpg). I think cubes is close enough, and the question stands. Horse poop is definitely squarish. ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/12 "2011-02-28T14:37:50Z")
I might ad the proviso that a sufficiently motivated individual could modify the form upon exiting, to wit, the performance artist that managed to extrude one upwards of a hundred feet long. (sorry for the mental imagery) ---
**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/13 "2011-02-28T16:55:00Z")
> [@Heyoka13](#): > > I might ad the proviso that a sufficiently motivated individual could modify the form upon exiting, to wit, the performance artist that managed to extrude one upwards of a hundred feet long. > > (sorry for the mental imagery) Does Play Doh make larger versions of those extruder attachments? Could be a new market. Maybe a joint venture with the makers of Tinkle Toys. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/14 "2011-02-28T19:56:03Z")
Also, according to Oprah and Dr Oz, it should be shaped like an “S” or at least a “C” ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feces-shape/572885/15 "2011-02-28T20:02:48Z")
To what end? Does Oprah like to write her name in the snow?