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Welcome most wonderful CSers,
LARGE INTESTINE, con`t
A type of movement characteristic of the large intestine is called
*haustral churning*. The pouches, or sacculations, which are found in
the large intestine become distended and from time to time contract and
empty themselves. Another type of movement is designated as *mass
peristalsis*. It consists of the vigorous contraction of the entire
ascending colon. Such movements occur only three or four times a day and
last only a short time. Some observers connect them with eating and
assume that the entrance of food into the stomach sets up a reflex
movement in the colon. The secretion of the large intestine contains
much mucin, has a alkaline reaction, and does not contain enzymes. When
the contents of the small intestine pass the colic valve, they still
contain a certain amount of unabsorbed food material. This remains a
long time in the intestine; and since it contains the digestive enzymes
received in the duodenum, the process of digestion and absorption
continues.
Action of organisms in the large intestine brings about constant
putrefaction of whatever proteins are present as the result of not
having been digested and absorbed in the small intestine. The splitting
of the protein molecules by this process is very complete; not only are
they hydrolyzed to amino acids, but these amino acids are deaminized and
oxidized to simpler groups. The list of simple substances resulting from
putrefaction is long and includes peptones, proteoses, ammonia, amino
acids, and also indol, skatol,phenol,fatty acids,carbon dioxide,
hydrogen sulphide, etc. Some of these are given off in the feces;
others are absorbed and carried to the liver, where they are changed to
less toxic compounds, e.g., ethereal sulphates, such as indoxyl
sulphate, skatoxyl sulphate, etc. and ultimately excreated in the urine.
Therefore the amount of these sulphates in the urine is indicative of
the degree of intestinal putrefaction. The ethereal sulphates are
produced during putrefaction when oxidation follows deamination. When
oxidation precedes deamination, more toxic substances, such as
tyramine,tryptamine, and histamine, are formed. Even though these
sulphates and allied compounds are less toxic than those from which they
are derived, they are more or less poisonous, and the feeling of malaise
associated with constipation is due to the presence of these substances
in the blood.
Two classes of feces material may be mingled in the contents of the
colon. (a) The residues of the diet with microorganisms and their
products. (b) The excretions of the digestive tube and its glands. The
proportion existing between these two is variable. The feces consists of
(1) water,(2) the undigested and indigestible parts of the food,(3)
pigment due to undigested food or to metallic elements contained in it
and to the bile pigments,(4) great quantities of microorganisms of
different kinds,(5) the products of bacterial decomposition,i.e.,
indol,skatol, etc.,(6)the products of the secretions,(7) mucus and
epithelial cells from the walls of the alimentary tract,(8) cholesterol
or a derivative from the bile,(9) some of the purin bases,(10) inorganic
salts of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron.
Defecation. The anal canal is guarded by an internal sphincter and an
external sphincter muscle, which are normally in a state of tonic
contraction and protect the anal opening. Normally the rectum is empty
until just before defeccation. Various stimuli (depending on one`s
habits) will produce peristalic action of the colon, so that a small
quantity of feces enters the rectum. This irritates the sensory nerve
endings and causes a desire to defecate. The voluntary contraction of
the abdominal muscles, the decent of the diaphragm, and powerful
peristalsis of the colon all combine to empty the colon and rectum.
One of the commonest causes of constipation is the retention of feces
in the rectum because of failure to act on the desire for defecation.
The *involuntary* insertion of a small amount of feces into the rectum
signals you to complete the *voluntary* part of defecation. Failure to
due so will cause you problems. After feces once enter the rectum there
is no retroperistalsis to carry them back to the colon, and the sense of
irritation becomes blunted. The desire may not recur for twenty or more
hours, and during this time the feces continue to lose water and become
harder and more difficult to expel. The best means to prevent and
overcome constipation are : (1) act on the desire for defecation, and
have a regular time for doing so; (2) use a liberal amount of fruit and
vegetables and there should be a liberal intake of water. Some
authorities teach that a certain amount of indigestible material in the
diet is wholesome. It stimulates the lining of the intestines, promotes
peristalsis, and as it is pushed along the tube takes with it the less
bulky but more toxic wastes. (3) Form the habit of daily exercise which
uses all the muscles, especially the abdominal muscles.
THE END
Thank you for bearing with me on this long series. Little did I think
that a Roman soldier swallowing a silver coin would lead to this
Intestine Series. :-)
The material was presented it a two level format. Each area was
presented at a highschool level, followed by a collage level discussion.
This material may be passed on freely from person to person, but not
used in commercial media without permission.
Many persons have sent lovely comments about the series and I thank
you all,and will try to answer each of you as time permits.
Bless you Bob Lee
--
oozing on the muggy shore of the gulf coast
[email protected]
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