Introduction
Food is the primary source of keeping an organism alive. Consuming food is as important as it is to discharge undigested and unassimilated food from the body. Usually, the process of removing waste food particles from the body is called excretion. However, the term for excretion changes in different types of organisms. The meaning and process of excretion differ from one living organism to another. Read on to know more about the egestion process and how it is different from excretion.
Egestion meaning
Either organisms that are unicellular or have complex anatomical systems undergo egestion. The process of removal of undigested food from the organism’s body is termed egestion. Anything toxic that cannot be digested is removed by organisms via egestion. Egestion meaning completely differs from excretion in organisms. Usually, food sacs or vacuoles are formed during the egestion process in organisms.
Organisms that undergo egestion digest their food inside food sacs or vacuoles. When the food reaches inside the food sac, digestive enzymes are released. The food is slowly digested by the digestive enzymes and waste products are released via egestion. For unicellular organisms, egestion occurs by ejecting the waste food particles out of the cell. For multicellular organisms, egestion usually occurs via the anus or mouth. When you define egestion in biology, you always talk about undigested food materials and not about metabolic wastes.
Egestion examples
Egestion may sound similar to excretion which is observed in human beings and other animals. However, there are several differences between excretion and egestion. Let us understand the egestion clearly with two examples. The examples for egestion are given below:
- Amoeba is a unicellular organism that undergoes egestion to discharge waste food particles. An amoeba engulfs the food particles into its body via pseudopodia. The food particles form a sac/vacuole inside the body of the amoeba. Organelles of amoeba then release digestive enzymes upon the food sac for digesting it. The digestive enzymes break the food particles into smaller pieces and then transfer them for assimilation. Once assimilation is completed, the sac traverses towards the periphery containing the undigested food particles. The food sac then assimilates with the cell membrane of the amoeba to discharge the waste food particles. It is the process of egestionin amoeba, a unicellular organism
- Jellyfishes are among the oldest multicellular organisms on the globe. Jellyfish also undergo the process of egestion to discharge waste food particles from their body. Jellyfishes use their mouth to consume food, as well as to discharge undigested food particles. Many other multicellular organisms use the anus for discharging undigested food particles from their bodies during egestion
Egestion in human beings
Egestion in human beings is termed excretion. Human beings do not excrete waste food particles from their bodies. Instead, they release metabolic wastes after digestion from their bodies. There is a very thin line between egestion and excretion and, one should not be confused. To not confuse egestion with excretion, you should know the difference between the two. The differences between egestion and excretion are given below:
- Egestion usually happens in unicellular organisms or those with a complex anatomical system. On the other hand, excretion always occurs in multicellular organisms
- During the egestionprocess, undigested food particles are released from the body. On the other hand, excretion releases metabolic waste products from the body. By-products left after digestion are thrown out of the body in the excretion process
- Egestiononly happens in animals whereas, excretion happens in both animals and plants. Plants shedding their leaves or getting rid of by-products after metabolic processes is also an example of excretion
- In egestion, the waste food particles are thrown out of the body at the end of the digestive tract. Usually, egestion occurs through the mouth, anus, or cell membrane. Contrary to egestion, excretion can occur from numerous body parts. For example, metabolism by-products in humans can be eliminated via sweat, urine, etc.
Conclusion
Egestion is the process of eliminating undigested waste products and food from an organism’s body. The expelled materials are undigested food and other hazardous things that remain after digestion. Egestion is done mainly through the anus or the mouth ( for example Jellyfish, use their mouths to eat and expel waste.)
Egestion also aids in the removal of any possibly dangerous or toxic component that has entered our bodies via the oral route. It also aids the body’s removal of excess heme by producing side products that are excreted or recycled in the faeces or urine.
Egestion in human beings is an important activity because it allows undigested food to exit the system. If the bowel movement is prolonged for an extended period of time, it can lead to a megacolon and bowel rupture.