Multiple choice

The process of removing waste material (feces) from the digestive tract is known as defaecation. The substance accelerating the process of defaecation is

  1. laxatives

  2. cathartic

  3. tegaserod

  4. emollients

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Cathartic is a substance that accelerates defecation. This is in contrast to a laxative, which is a substance which eases defecation, usually by softening feces. It is possible for a substance to be both a laxative and a cathartic. However, agents such as psyllium seed husks increase the bulk of the feces.