The intestines are a part of the digestive system.

The intestines are a long, continuous muscular tubes running from the lower end of the

stomach to the anus. It is also called bowel or bowels.

The intestines include the small intestine, large intestine, and rectum.

The small intestine (small bowel) is about 20 feet long and about an inch in diameter.

The large intestine (colon or large bowel) is about 5 feet long and about 3 inches in

diameter.

The colon absorbs water from wastes, creating stool. As stool enters the rectum, nerves

there create pressure to defecate.

The small intestine consists of three segments :

Duodenum : This short section is the part of the small intestine that takes in semi-

digested food from the stomach through the pylorus, and continues the digestion process.

The duodenum also uses bile from the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas to help digest food.

Jejunum : The middle section of the small intestine carries food through rapidly, with

wave-like muscle contractions, towards the ileum.

Ileum : This last section is the longest part of the small intestine. The ileum is where

most of the nutrients from the food are absorbed before emptying into the large

intestine.

By the time food reaches the small intestine, it has already been broken up and mashed

into liquid by the stomach. Each day, the small intestine receives between one and three

gallons (or six to twelve liters) of this liquid. The small intestine carries out most of the

digestive process, absorbing almost all of the nutrients from foods into the bloodstream.

The walls of the small intestine make digestive juices, or enzymes, that work together

with enzymes from the liver and pancreas .

The large intestine is about five feet (or 1.5 meters) long. The large intestine is much

broader than the small intestine and takes a much straighter path through the belly, or

abdomen. 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.

By the time food mixed with digestive juices reaches the large intestine, most digestion

and absorption has already taken place.

What's left is mainly fiber (plant matter which takes a long time to digest), dead cells

shed from the lining of the intestines, salt, bile pigments (which give this digested

matter its color), and water. In the large intestine, bacteria feed on this mixture. These

helpful bacteria produce valuable vitamins that are absorbed into the blood, and they

also help digest fiber.

The digestive tract plays a vital role in your health, as it’s responsible for absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste. Unfortunately, many people suffer from digestive problems like bloating, cramping, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation for a variety of reasons. Certain conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Crohn’s Disease, diverticulitis and heartburn, can put you at risk for more severe digestive issues.

However, even a healthy person can experience digestive problems due to things such as

lack of fiber or probiotic-rich foods in their diet.

Foods like Yogurt, dark green vegetables, whole grains, apples, papaya, beet roots, chia

seeds, ginger aid in digestion.

Both high-fat and fried food can overwhelm the stomach, resulting in acid reflux and heartburn.

High-fat food also can result in pale-colored stool, a phenomenon called steatorrhea, which is essentially excess fat in the feces. A lot of people with irritable bowel syndrome need to stay away from foods high in fat, she says, including butter and cream because they can cause digestive problems.

Trivia

Dr. John Wilce of Ohio State University, USA, coined 'Intestinal fortitude' to avoid the use

of the word guts.

Intestinal fortitude means strong courage, determination, gumption.

He does not have the intestinal fortitude necessary to make his mark in the murky world

of politics.

Readers, when did you last read in detail about Intestines?

I am participating in the A to Z Challenge.

(Information courtesy Google)

A to Z Challenge - Day 1. Arms : Parts of the body
A to Z Challenge - Day 2. breasts : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 3.Chin & Cheeks : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 4. Dimples : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 5. Eye : Parts of the body.

A to Z Challenge - Day 6. Feet: Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 7 . Gums/Gingiva

A to Z Challenge - Day 8. Hair : Parts of the body