Where is feces stored prior to elimination?

• A. Small intestine
• B. Large intestine
• C. Esophagus
• D. Stomach

Answer: (B)

Feces are stored in the rectum, the final section of the large intestine. The large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes from indigestible material and forms solid waste. That stool is held in the rectum until defecation, when stretch receptors trigger a reflex that relaxes the anal sphincters to allow elimination. The other organs have different roles: the small intestine is where most digestion and absorption occur, the esophagus is a conduit moving food to the stomach, and the stomach stores and churns ingested material into chyme. Therefore, storage prior to elimination happens in the rectum.