What is defined as the evacuation of bowel contents?

Defecation is the term used to describe the process of evacuating bowel contents from the body. It involves the elimination of waste material that has been formed in the intestines after the digestion and absorption processes. This act is crucial for maintaining bodily health as it helps to rid the body of indigestible substances and toxins.

The other terms listed reflect different processes associated with the digestive system: excretion generally refers to the removal of metabolic waste products from the body, digestion is the breakdown of food into smaller components that can be absorbed, and absorption is the process where nutrients from digested food are taken into the bloodstream. While all these terms are related to the digestion and elimination process, defecation specifically focuses on the final step of eliminating solid waste.