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 THE LARGE INTESTINE 

FUNCTION & STRUCTURE

  • The large intestine consists of the COLON and RECTUM which is the last 20 cm of the colon. 

  • The opening at the very end of the colon is called the ANUS.

  • The colon is also divided into three parts: 

    1. ASCENDING ZONE

    2. TRANSVERSE ZONE 

    3. DESCENDING ZONE​

FUNCTIONS: 

  • Reabsorption of water occurs in the large intestine from the undigested food (feces) 

    • This reabsorption of water has a great impact on our blood volume​

  • The large intestine also function to reabsorb vitamins from our feces as well​

    • Feces contains parasites like bile pigments, heavy metals and billions of E. coli. These bacteria breakdown indigestible food and produce vitamins, amino acids and other growth factors that can be reabsorbed.​

Disorders of the Digestive System

DIARRHEA:

  • Diarrhea occurs when there is too much water in the feces

  • It is usually caused by an infection from bacteria that enters the body from either food, polluted water, etc. 

  • The symptoms of diarrhea are our bodies way of defence to remove the pathogen from the body 

  • However, this can lead to the loss of water and cause dehydration and if it becomes severe enough it can also lead to death.

  • Diarrhea results due to lactose intolerance, high salt diets, sickness and even stress.

What Controls Digestive Gland Secretions?

GASTRIN:

  • The presence of peptides from food are detected by sensory cells in the stomach. Also, other sensory receptors can detect the stomach stretching due to the food that has entered it. 

  • This causes our stomach cells to release a hormone called gastrin into the blood

  • Gastrin works to travel to other gastric glands and triggers the production and release of gastric juices 

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