1. Stool Sample Lab

2. Key Question: What does the color of stool mean?
11/7/15 Stool Sample Lab
Key Question: What does the color of stool mean?
Initial Thoughts:

3. Evidence- Reading
15 minutes to read the article and write notes

4. Evidence At each of the lab stations answer the following questions:
What color of stool do you see?
What causes stool to be that color?
What symptoms would be evident if that color was passed?
Should the person go to the doctor? Explain

5. Evidence Stool color What it may mean Possible dietary causes Green
Food may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely.
Green leafy vegetables, green food coloring, such as in flavored drink mixes or ice pops, iron supplements.
Light-colored, white or clay-colored
A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction.
Certain medications, such as large doses of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs.
Yellow, greasy, foul-smelling
Excess fat in the stool, such as due to a malabsorption disorder, for example, celiac disease.
Sometimes the protein gluten, such as in breads and cereals. But see a doctor for evaluation.
Black
Bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach.
Iron supplements, bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol), black licorice.
Bright red
Bleeding in the lower intestinal tract, such as the large intestine or rectum, often from hemorrhoids.
Red food coloring, beets, cranberries, tomato juice or soup, red gelatin or drink mixes.

6. Analysis 1. Why can’t people with liver problems eat fatty foods?
2. Why do babies have so varied colors of stool compared to
adults?
3. Does having a colored stool besides brown always mean
you’re sick? Explain

7. Summary Minimum of 4 sentences
What did you think before about what the color of stool meant? (look back at your initial thoughts)
What did you learn about the color of stool?
What evidence do you have that you learned this?
Further Thoughts
Make sure this is thoughtful and thorough.

8. Reflection If a person had green stool, what would you tell them?
How would they fix it?

9. Big Idea The color of your stool can tell you how well your
digestive system is working.