:-)
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oozing on the muggy shore of the gulf coast
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Greetings health epicureans of CS,
LARGE INTESTINE
The large intestine has the form of an inverted U. It is about 5 to 6
feet long, and 2.5 inches in diameter. The small intestine comes into
the large intestine from the side and about 2 or 3 inches down from the
begining of the large intestine. The part below this point of entry is
called the *cecum*. Attached to the bottom of the cecum is the small
finger pounch called the *appendix*, which gives much trouble when
infected. This is called appendicitis. A severe infection may cause the
appendix to rupture, thus spreading the infection to the membranes
lining the abdominal cavity and supporting the organs (the viscera)
within it. This condition is known as *peritonitis*. Blood poisoning may
also occur. The cecum and appendix at one time were involved in the
digestion of cellulose, but no longer functions in man. Cows and horses,
which feed on grass have well developed cecums. We are now *omnivorous*
and have evolved a diet of animal proteins and plant carbohydrates. A
healthy balanced diet requires both for continuing body health. We can
not digest cellulose from plants, but it does pass through as fiber and
helps to keep our intestines healthy.
The large intestine (colon) has several functions. The most inportant
is absorption of water and disolved salts from the liquidy mass that
arrives from the small intestine. This includes water from the foods and
water added by the various digestive fluids. Most of the water is
reabsorbed in the large intestine during the 12 to 14 hours that the
food residues remain there.
When the waste does not remain in the colon long enough for the water
to be absorbed, it is eliminated in a watery form, and we suffer from
*diarrhea*. This can be fatal, especially in infants. The opposite
condition is the waste remaining to long and becoming to dry,this is
*constipation*, and makes it hard to eliminate the waste. This also can
cause death if not attended to in a timely manner.
The second important function of the large intestine is to provide the
body with certain growth factors such as vitamins. This is accomplished
in an interesting way. The large intestine houses vast numbers of
bacteria. Many of the bacteria are able to synthesize vitamins and
growth factors our own cells cannot make. We benefit by absorbing the
excess growth factors that the bacteria themselfs do not use. When
antibiotics are taken for any lenght of time , many of the colon
bacteria may be destroyed, thus cutting off the normal supply of these
growth factors. The body will begin to show signs of vitamin deficiency.
The rectum makes up the last 7 to 8 inches of the digestive tract. The
opening at the end of the rectum is called the anus. It has two valves
,an inner and an outer ring of muscle (sphincters) The inner ring is of
involuntary muscle . The outer ring is voluntary muscle, and early in
life a child can learn to control it, usually between two to three years
of age.
The waste material that arrives from the large intestine to the rectum
is called feces. The feces pass from the large intestine through an
S-shaped tube into the rectum. The rectum fills up until the individual
is ready to eliminate, the muscle contractions in the rectum push the
feces toward the annus. The anal sphincter relaxes and the waste passes
out of the body. Vigorous peritaltic waves expel the feces in the
process of defecation.
The feces is a mixture of many things. Ten to fifty percent may be
bacteria,and a good part is bulk or *roughage*. this is the part of the
food that is undigestable, such as the cellulose of plants we eat. The
remains of bile pigments, minerals, and epithelial cells are included.
Several million epithelial cells die every minute in the harsh
environment of the intestines and are constantly being replaced by new
cells.
The large intestine receives the liquid residue of material left after
digestion. This residue contains other food materials that serve to
nourish the enormous population of bacteria that live in the large
intestine. Usually these bacteria are perfectly harmless, such as the
much studied *escherichia coli*. In the process of their metabolic
activities they may produce gases and other oderiferous wastes.
Some of the bacteria actually benefie us by producing vitamins such as
vitamin B12.
Occasionally, harmful bacteria or protozoans may become established in
the large intestine. Typhoid fever, Asiatic cholera, and amoebic
dysentery are three diseases which are caused by intestinal parasites.
They may even invade other organs of the body such as the liver and
cause extensive damage.
Bless you Bob Lee
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oozing on the muggy shore of the gulf coast
[email protected]
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