Large Intestines

The large intestine is the organ of the digestive system where waste products from eaten food is collected and processed into stool. It is about 1.5m long and consists of the caecum, appendix, colon and rectum.

What does the Large Intestine do?

The large intestine has four main functions:

1. It absorbs certain minerals,
2. It processes undigested food material,
3. It reabsorbs water and maintains the fluid balance of the body, and
4. It stores waste before it is eliminated

The Caecum

This is the first part of the large intestine. It is located in the right lower abdomen and is shaped like a small pouch. The caecum is also the main connection between the small intestine and the colon.

The caecum receives and stores processed material from the small intestine and moves it towards the colon. At this stage the digested food is normally a mixture of undigested food, a bit of water, some vitamins, salts or minerals.

The Appendix

The appendix is a tiny projection emerging from the caecum. It has no known function in human beings. If the appendix is infected, it may need to be removed due to a condition known as appendicitis.

The Colon

The “U” shaped colon is the longest part of the large intestine. It has four sections: the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon and the sigmoid colon.

The mixture of fibre, water, vitamins and minerals mixes with mucus and bacteria that lives in the large intestine. This starts to form stool. As the stool moves through the colon, the lining of the colon absorbs most of the water and some vitamins and minerals.

The bacterium in the colon breaks down some of the fibre to produce nutrients to nourish the cells lining the colon and for their own survival. The muscles in the colon push the stool into the rectum as they absorb the nutrients from the food.

The Rectum

The rectum is the final part of the large intestine. It is here that the stool is stored before being excreted from the body.

Conditions that Affect the Large Intestines

Problems of the intestines can be either simple to treat or very serious. Some of these include:

• Constipation,
• Appendicitis,
• Diarrhea,
• Irritable bowel syndrome,
• Rectal bleeding,
• Colon cancer,
• Ulcerative colitis,
• Colorectal polyps, and
• Crohn’s disease

In most cases conditions in the large intestines also affect other digestive system parts like the stomach and the small intestines.

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