Intestines

Food is necessary for our living but we humans also need organs to digest the food that will thereby, break down the food into several micronutrients, minerals and vitamins to fulfil the requirements of our body. Talking about the term digestion, intestines come into play the most essential purpose. Both the small and large intestines are essential as small intestines serve as a tool for absorption of necessary nutrients, proteins, fats and many more, whereas, large intestines serve as a channel to pass away the unwanted food material out of our body. Moreover, it can be said that the intestines support the body in maintaining the balance of water.

What is the intestine?

Intestines are crucial body parts that support providing a long tube-like channel that runs from the very stomach to the anus of our human body. It is quite interesting to know that the word “intestine” has been taken from “intestinal” a Latin word. The intestines serve a major function in supporting the body for proper absorption of any kind of food intake in our body. Majorly, it is noticed that this long continuous channel is located inferior to the location of the stomach mainly in the “cavity” associated with the abdominal region of the human body. 

What are the respective parts of the intestine?

Considering the anatomy of a human body, it can be easily stated that the intestine of a body is segregated into two major parts. The first is “small intestines” and “large intestines”. Then again, it can be said that the “small intestines” are subdivided into three respective parts, which are as follows.

• “Duodenum”, the first part
• “Jejunum”, the middle part and lastly,
• “Ileum”, the end part

On the other hand, “large intestines” are subdivided into the following parts.

• “Appendix”
• “Cecum”
• “Colon”
• “Rectum” respectively.

Functions of small and large intestines

Both the parts of the intestines serve as an indelible part of the human body. As the food is slowly broken down with the body organs and gradually reaches the stomach the food becomes easy for the intestines to conduct its functions.  The food in the form of the chyme reaches the “small intestines”. The small intestines serve as a tube that helps in mingling up the food content with that of the several digestive juices that are pursued by the human body. The juices are being produced by several parts that constitute “liver”, “pancreas” and “intestines” as well. “Small intestines” work as a tool of further digestion of the remaining food content, extracting water, thereby pushing the food lower into the “gastrointestinal tract”.

On the other hand, “large intestines” serve three primary functions; the first one is effectively the extraction of water as well as electrolytes. The second is absorption and production of vitamins and lastly, it supports in production of “faeces” and as well propelling it down to the rectum of the human body.

Relation of the intestine with respect to our internal mechanism of a human body

It can be easily stated that the inward mechanism of digestion of food is not quite an easy process that occurs within the human body and can be referred to as complex. From the study, it is noticed that the digestion of food takes a period of a minimum of 6 to 8 hours as it travels from the stomach to the small intestine. Further, the food travels from the small intestine to the large intestine, which is also known as the colon. It is acknowledged by scientists that it takes around 36 hours for food content to effectively pass down from the entire colon or large intestine. It can be majorly stated that both “small and large intestines” support digestion of food content thereby pushing the food to the way out of the body.

Reasons for malfunctioning of the intestines

Several reasons can be stated that result in the “malfunctioning of the intestines”. The malfunctioning can happen from the “abnormalities” noticed in the structure, inflammations caused by various reasons. Factors associated with unhealthy lifestyles, such as dietary issues can also possess a threat to malfunctioning of the intestines. Furthermore, infections, improper and too much medication usage may result in malfunctioning.

What happens when the intestine malfunctions?

Major and deadly diseases occur due to the malfunctioning of the intestines. The most common of them are “acid peptic disease” commonly known as acidity, “inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)”, “nausea”, “irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)”, constipation and many more.

Conclusion 

Exploring the field of study, it can be acknowledged that a clear concept of intestines is noticed with its several parts. Moreover, the study caters to its respective functions associated with the human body. A vivid understanding has also been made concerning the functions, malfunctions associated with both the large and small intestines