The function of the large intestine The large intestine stores the wastes (the food remains), then ejects them outside the body through the anus. The large intestine is the final section of the gastrointestinal tract that performs the vital task of absorbing the water and the vitamins, and it converts the digested food into feces.
How does the large intestine perform its functions?
The large intestine performs the vital functions of converting food into feces, absorbing essential vitamins produced by gut bacteria, and reclaiming water from feces. A slurry of digested food, known as chyme, enters the large intestine from the small intestine via the ileocecal sphincter. Chyme passes through the cecum where it is mixed with ...
What is the large intestine responsible for?
Your large intestine is responsible for moving food through your body and transforming it from a nutrient-rich compound to waste. In the process, it absorbs much of the water and nutrients and even creates some vitamins on their own. From beginning to end, your large intestine is a very important part of your health and deserves your support.
What does the large intestine do in the human body?
The large intestines are responsible for forming stool and removing it from the body. As chyme moves through the colon, it becomes drier and forms a collective unit of stool. The large intestine functions to absorb any excess water from the material it receives from the small intestine.
What is the role of the large intestine?
Function of large intestine. The large intestine has 3 primary functions: absorbing water and electrolytes, producing and absorbing vitamins, and forming and propelling feces toward the rectum for elimination. By the time indigestible materials have reached the colon, most nutrients and up to 90% of the water has been absorbed by the small intestine.
What is large intestine and its function?
The large intestine, also called the large bowel, is where food waste is formed into poop, stored, and finally excreted. It includes the colon, rectum and anus. Sometimes “colon” is also used to describe the entire large intestine.
What is a large intestine?
(larj in-TES-tin) The long, tube-like organ that is connected to the small intestine at one end and the anus at the other. The large intestine has four parts: cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. Partly digested food moves through the cecum into the colon, where water and some nutrients and electrolytes are removed.
What are the 4 main functions of the large intestine?
The 4 major functions of the large intestine are recovery of water and electrolytes, formation and storage of faeces and fermentation of some of the indigestible food matter by bacteria. The ileocaecal valve controls the entry of material from the last part of the small intestine called the ileum.
What are the 3 main functions of the large intestine?
The large intestine has 3 primary functions: absorbing water and electrolytes, producing and absorbing vitamins, and forming and propelling feces toward the rectum for elimination.
Where is the large intestine?
The large intestine is larger in diameter than the small intestine. It begins at the ileocecal junction, where the ileum enters the large intestine, and ends at the anus. The large intestine consists of the colon, rectum, and anal canal.
What are two functions of the large intestine?
The purpose of the large intestine is to absorb water and salts from the material that has not been digested as food, and get rid of any waste products left over.
What is the function of intestine?
Its main purpose is to digest food. But the intestine is not only there for digestion: it also produces various substances that carry messages to other parts of the body, and plays an important role in fighting germs and regulating the body's water balance.
What is large intestine class 10th?
The large intestine is wider and shorter than the small intestine. It is about 1.5 meters in length. It is a combination of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. The colon is the largest portion of the large intestine.
Can you live without a large intestine?
You can live without a large intestine - something that comes as a shock to many people. The large intestine or colon has one primary role, water and electrolyte absorption to concentrate the stool. It plays little role in metabolism and people can live full lives without their large intestine.
Is your colon and large intestine the same thing?
The colon is also known as the large bowel or large intestine. It is an organ that is part of the digestive system (also called the digestive tract) in the human body.
What's another word for large intestine?
Colon (large intestine)
What problems can occur in the large intestine?
Colonic polyps - extra tissue growing in the colon that can become cancerous. Ulcerative colitis - ulcers of the colon and rectum. Diverticulitis - inflammation or infection of pouches in the colon. Irritable bowel syndrome - an uncomfortable condition causing abdominal cramping and other symptoms.
What are the causes of colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is linked to a low-fibre high-fat diet, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol and smoking.
What is the appendix?
The appendix is a vestigial organ attached to the large intestine. The inflammation of the appendix known as appendicitis requires the removal of t...
What is the cause of flatulence?
Flatulence is caused by swallowing air and eating foods that are difficult to digest. Some food like beans contain raffinose, and it is broken down...
What are the functions of the large intestine?
The 4 major functions of the large intestine are: reabsorption of water and mineral ions such as sodium and chloride. formation and temporary storage of faeces. maintaining a resident population of over 500 species of bacteria. bacterial fermentation of indigestible materials.
How big is the large intestine?
It is about 1.5 metres long and has an average diameter of about 6 cm. The 4 major functions of the large intestine are recovery of water and electrolytes, formation and storage of faeces and fermentation of some of the indigestible food matter by bacteria.
What is the valve that controls the entry of material from the last part of the small intestine called?
The ileocaecal valve controls the entry of material from the last part of the small intestine called the ileum. The human appendix has no known function and is thought to be a remnant from a previous time in human evolution.
What part of the body absorbs most of the water?
By the time partially digested foodstuffs reach the end of the small intestine (ileum), about 80% of the water content has been absorbed. The colon absorbs most of the remaining water.
Which system is responsible for the movement of food down the gut?
This enteric nervous system is now often referred to as the ‘second brain’. It is capable of directing messages to the brain as well as controlling the release of hormones that influence the movement of food down the gut, feelings of wellbeing and the sensations of being hungry or of being full.
Is the gut an organ?
This high level of activity, which impacts on our health and wellbeing, has led some researchers to regard the gut bacteria as a body organ in its own right rather than a population of bacteria that just happen to live in the gut.
Is the gut a symbiotic relationship?
Gut bacteria and health. The resident bacterial species in the large intestine form complex inter-relationships with themselves as well as their human host. It is now thought that, rather than being a non-harmful coexistence, it is in fact a symbiotic relationship where each gains benefit from the other. Explore topics.
What is the function of the large intestine?
Many people think of the large intestine as simply a storage organ, a conduit for carrying indigestible nutrients from the small intestine to the anus to be discharged, yet this organ has many very important functions in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including: Reabsorbing water and maintaining the body's balance of fluids.
Why is the large intestine called the large intestine?
This organ is called the large intestine because of the diameter (width) of the intestine; it is much wider than the small intestine, but also much shorter.
What are the conditions that affect the colon?
There are a number of medical conditions that can affect the colon. Some of these include: 1 Colorectal cancer: Colon cancer can affect each part of the colon discussed above and is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the United States. 2 Inflammatory bowel disease: Conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can affect the colon, and also increase the risk of developing colon cancer. 3 Diverticulosis and diverticulitis: Tiny sacs (out pouches) called diverticula can develop along the colon. When these become inflamed it may result in a very uncomfortable condition known as diverticulitis, sometimes referred to as "left-sided appendicitis." 4 Dehydration: When the colon does not perform effectively to reabsorb water from the colon, dehydration may result. 5 Bowel obstruction: Sometimes the colon becomes kinked or wrapped in adhesions or scar tissue. This can result in either a partial or complete bowel obstruction, and if left untreated, can result in perforation of the bowel. The most common causes are conditions that result in scar tissue in the abdomen, such as previous abdominal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, and pelvic inflammatory disease. 6 Vitamin deficiencies: When the colon does not function properly, vitamins such as biotin and vitamin K are not adequately absorbed, leading to symptoms related to a particular deficiency. 7 Constipation and diarrhea. 1
Where does the colon extend?
The colon extends from the cecum (where the small intestine meets the large intestine) to the anus (where waste exits the body), and comprises four main regions that are labeled in the image above: Ascending colon: The ascending colon is the first part of the large intestine.
What is the outermost layer of the colon?
Serosa: The outermost layer, known as the serosa, is a thin layer of simple squamous epithelial tissue. The serosa secretes a watery fluid that provides lubrication for the colon's surface that protects it from damage due to contact with other abdominal organs as well as the muscles and bones of the lower torso that surround it. 3
What is tortuous colon?
A tortuous colon is one that is longer than normal. In order for this longer tube to fit in your abdomen, the colon ends up with extra twists and turns.
Which organ absorbs vitamins?
You may think of vitamins as nutrients that are absorbed higher in the digestive tract, but the colon plays a very important role in the absorbing vitamins necessary for good health. These vitamins are actually produced by healthy bacteria in the colon through fermentation and include:
What is the digestive system?
The digestive tract is a long tube-like structure that starts with the mouth and ends in the large intestine. This tube is known as the alimentary canal.
How long is the colon?
It is about 1.5 meters in length. It is a combination of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. The colon is the largest portion of the large intestine. It is divided into five sections: Ascending.
Which part of the body holds waste?
The rectum is the last part, that holds the waste. The undigested and unabsorbed food from the small intestine passes into the large intestine. All the water from the undigested food is absorbed by the large intestine rendering the food in a semi-solid state.
Can you live without the large intestine?
Living without the Large Intestine. The large intestine can be removed from the body without affecting the digestion process. In a few diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, the large intestine can be removed completely. It is usually replaced by a faecal pouch from the small intestine sutured to the anus.
What is the function of the large intestine?
The large intestine absorbs some of the products formed by the bacteria inhabiting this region. Undigested polysaccharides (fiber) are metabolized to short-chain fatty acids by bacteria in the large intestine and absorbed by passive diffusion. The bicarbonate that the large intestine secretes helps to neutralize the increased acidity resulting from the formation of these fatty acids.
Where does the large intestine begin?
Some other sources exclude the anal canal. In humans, the large intestine begins in the right iliac region of the pelvis, just at or below the waist, where it is joined to the end of the small intestine at the cecum, via the ileocecal valve.
What is the name of the part of the large intestine that moves stool into the rectum?
The sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine after the descending colon and before the rectum. The name sigmoid means S-shaped (see sigmoid; cf. sigmoid sinus ). The walls of the sigmoid colon are muscular and contract to increase the pressure inside the colon, causing the stool to move into the rectum.
What protects the large intestine from attacks from colonic commensal bacteria?
A mucus layer protects the large intestine from attacks from colonic commensal bacteria.
What is the function of the colon?
One of the main functions of the colon is to remove the water and other key nutrients from waste material and recycle it. As the waste material exits the small intestine through the ileocecal valve, it will move into the cecum and then to the ascending colon where this process of extraction starts. The waste material is pumped upwards toward the transverse colon by peristalsis. The ascending colon is sometimes attached to the appendix via Gerlach's valve. In ruminants, the ascending colon is known as the spiral colon. Taking into account all ages and sexes, colon cancer occurs here most often (41%).
What is the transverse colon?
The transverse colon is the part of the colon from the hepatic flexure, also known as the right colic, (the turn of the colon by the liver) to the splenic flexure also known as the left colic, (the turn of the colon by the spleen ). The transverse colon hangs off the stomach, attached to it by a large fold of peritoneum called the greater omentum. On the posterior side, the transverse colon is connected to the posterior abdominal wall by a mesentery known as the transverse mesocolon .
What is the ascending colon?
The ascending colon is the first of four main sections of the large intestine. It is connected to the small intestine by a section of bowel called the cecum. The ascending colon runs upwards through the abdominal cavity toward the transverse colon for approximately eight inches (20 cm).
What is the large intestine?
The large intestine is named for its relatively large diameter, not its length. The large intestine consists of the cecum, appendix, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, rectum, and anal canal. The large intestine is responsible for processing indigestible food material (chyme) after most nutrients are absorbed in ...
What are the four layers of the large intestine?
The wall of the large intestine contains the typical four layers found in the rest of the gastrointestinal tract: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. The mucosa consists of simple columnar epithelium, lamina propria (areolar connective tissue), and muscularis mucosae (smooth muscle). The epithelium contains mostly absorptive and goblet cells. The absorptive cells function primarily in water absorption; the goblet cells secrete mucus that lubricates the passage of the colonic contents. Both absorptive and goblet cells are located in long, straight, tubular intestinal glands (crypts of Lieberkühn) that extend the full thickness of the mucosa. Solitary lymphatic nodules are also found in the lamina propria of the mucosa and may extend through the muscularis mucosa e into the submucosa.
How does the colon move?
Movements of the colon begin when substances pass the ileocecal sphincter. Because chyme moves through the small intestine at a fairly constant rate, the time required for a meal to pass into the colon is determined by gastric emptying time. As food passes through the ileocecal sphincter, it fills the cecum and accumulates in the ascending colon.
What is the S-shaped portion of the colon?
The resulting S-shaped portion of the tract is called the sigmoid colon. Visual examination of this region is performed with an instrument called a sigmoidoscope. In the pelvic cavity, the large intestine continues as the rectum, about 15 cm long.
Which part of the colon travels through the pelvic cavity?
Large intestine. The pelvic cavity is narrower than the abdominal cavity, so at the hip bone, the colon turns medially and travels along the iliac fossa before turning downward at the pelvic inlet into the pelvic cavity. The resulting S-shaped portion of the tract is called the sigmoid colon.
Which intestine bends downward?
At this position, just below the spleen, the large intestine bends downward, forming the left colic flexure (splenic flexure) and continues as the descending colon through the left flank and into the left groin. Ascending, transverse, and descending colons thus form a squarish, three-sided frame around the small intestine.
Where does the colon go in the intestine?
The ascending colon begins at the ileocecal valve and passes up the right side of the abdominal cavity. It makes a 90° turn at the right colic (hepatic) flexure, near the right lobe of the liver, and crosses the abdomen as the transverse colon to the left hypochondrium. At this position, just below the spleen, the large intestine bends downward, forming the left colic flexure (splenic flexure) and continues as the descending colon through the left flank and into the left groin. Ascending, transverse, and descending colons thus form a squarish, three-sided frame around the small intestine.
How big is the large intestine?
The large intestine is about 5 feet (1.5 m) in length and 2.5 inches (6-7 cm) in diameter in the living body, but becomes much larger postmortem as the smooth muscle tissue of the intestinal wall relaxes.
Where is the large intestine located?
The large intestine wraps around the border of the abdominal body cavity from the right side of the body, across the top of the abdomen, and finally down the left side. Continued From Above... Beginning on the right side of the abdomen, the large intestine is connected to the ilium of the small intestine via the ileocecal sphincter.
What is the enlarged final segment of the large intestine that terminates at the anus?
The rectum is the enlarged final segment of the large intestine that terminates at the anus. Like the rest of the gastrointestinal canal, ...
How does the large intestine absorb water?
The absorption of water by the large intestine not only helps to condense and solidify feces , but also allows the body to retain water to be used in other metabolic processes. Ions and nutrients released by gut bacteria and dissolved in water are also absorbed in the large intestine and used by the body for metabolism.
What are the layers of the large intestine?
Like the rest of the gastrointestinal canal, the large intestine is made of four tissue layers: 1 The innermost layer, known as the mucosa, is made of simple columnar epithelial tissue. The mucosa of the large intestine is smooth, lacking the villi found in the small intestine. Many mucous glands secrete mucus into the hollow lumen of the large intestine to lubricate its surface and protect it from rough food particles. 2 Surrounding the mucosa is a layer of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue known as the submucosa, which supports the other layers of the large intestine. 3 The muscularis layer surrounds the submucosa and contains many layers of visceral muscle cells that contract and move the large intestine. Continuous contraction of smooth muscle bands in the muscularis produces lumpy, pouch-like structures known as haustra in the large intestine. 4 Finally, the serosa forms the outermost layer. The serosa is a thin layer of simple squamous epithelial tissue that secretes watery serous fluid to lubricate the surface of the large intestine, protecting it from friction between abdominal organs and the surrounding muscles and bones of the lower torso.
What is the layer of the large intestine that protects the body from friction?
The serosa is a thin layer of simple squamous epithelial tissue that secretes watery serous fluid to lubricate the surface of the large intestine, protecting it from friction between abdominal organs and the surrounding muscles and bones of the lower torso.
What is the layer of blood vessels that surrounds the large intestine?
Surrounding the mucosa is a layer of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue known as the submucosa, which supports the other layers of the large intestine. The muscularis layer surrounds the submucosa ...
What is the function of the large intestine?
The function of the large intestine. The large intestine stores the wastes (the food remains), then ejects them outside the body through the anus. The large intestine is the final section of the gastrointestinal tract that performs the vital task of absorbing the water and the vitamins, and it converts the digested food into feces.
How long is the large intestine?
The large intestine is a tube that starts from the end of the small intestine, and ends with the anus which is located at the end of the rectum, It is shorter than the small intestine in length, the large intestine is considered thicker in diameter, the large intestine is about 5 feet (1.5 m) in length.
What is the function of the rectum?
The rectum absorbs the water from the food remains (the wastes), The absorption of the water by the large intestine does not help only to condense and solidify the feces, but it also allows the body to retain the water to be used in other metabolic processes.
Which sphincter is connected to the large intestine?
The large intestine is connected to the ileum of the small intestine via the ileocecal sphincter, from the ileocecal sphincter the large intestine forms a sideways T extending both superiorly and inferiorly.
Where are nutrients released by gut bacteria and dissolved in water absorbed?
The ions and the nutrients released by gut bacteria and dissolved in the water are also absorbed in the large intestine and used by the body for the metabollism.
Overview
The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the digestive system in tetrapods. Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored in the rectum as feces before being removed by defecation. The colon is the longest portion of the large intestine, and the terms are often used interchangeably but most sources define the large intestine as the combination of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. Some other sourc…
Structure
The colon of the large intestine is the last part of the digestive system. It has a segmented appearance due to a series of saccules called haustra. It extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body and is the site in which the fermentation of unabsorbed material by the gut microbiota occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a major role in absorption of foods and nutrients. About 1.5 litres or 45 ounces of water arrives in the col…
Microanatomy
The wall of the large intestine is lined with simple columnar epithelium with invaginations. The invaginations are called the intestinal glands or colonic crypts.
• Micrograph of normal large instestinal crypts.
• Anatomy of normal large intestinal crypts
The colon crypts are shaped like microscopic thick walled test tubes with a central hole down th…
Function
The large intestine absorbs water and any remaining absorbable nutrients from the food before sending the indigestible matter to the rectum. The colon absorbs vitamins that are created by the colonic bacteria, such as thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin K (especially important as the daily ingestion of vitamin K is not normally enough to maintain adequate blood coagulation). It also compacts feces, and stores fecal matter in the rectum until it can be discharged via the anus in d…
Clinical significance
Following are the most common diseases or disorders of the colon:
• Angiodysplasia of the colon
• Appendicitis
• Chronic functional abdominal pain
• Colitis
Other animals
The large intestine is truly distinct only in tetrapods, in which it is almost always separated from the small intestine by an ileocaecal valve. In most vertebrates, however, it is a relatively short structure running directly to the anus, although noticeably wider than the small intestine. Although the caecum is present in most amniotes, only in mammals does the remainder of the large intestine develop into a true colon.
Additional images
• Intestines
• Colon. Deep dissection. Anterior view.
See also
• Large intestine (Chinese medicine)
• Colectomy
• Colonic ulcer