The intestinal tract (ed. note: hereinafter abbreviated as CT) can be called the final section of the digestive system. Its role in the body is difficult to overestimate: in the CT, most nutrients are broken down and absorbed, which are converted into energy for life. Moreover, it is the intestines that “decide” when the excess and undigested need to be eliminated.
The length of the intestine in an adult is 3-6.39 meters. The diameter, depending on the location in the two large intestines - the large and small intestines - reaches 2-4 centimeters.
The length of the CT scan depends on various parameters. The organ is longer in people with high body weight. The small intestine, despite its name, is longer than the human large intestine.
What you need to know about bowel function
The digestive process begins in the oral cavity. Human saliva contains special enzymes that can “extract” simple carbohydrates from food entering the mouth. The chyme enters the stomach - the so-called gruel, which, after going through local stages of processing by gastric juice, continues to move through the duodenum, gradually being transported first to the small intestine, then to the large intestine. Along with food, its key contents, bile, enter the tract through the bile duct. The CT scan also reveals pancreatic juice secreted by the pancreas. Bile is needed by the intestines. It neutralizes pepsin, which gastric juice is rich in, which allows other enzymes to be included in the digestive process.
Having gone through the described stages, the food gruel leaves the small intestine. The chyme then ends up in the jejunum. Here useful microelements are actively absorbed.
The duration of digestion in the small intestine lasts from 2 to 4 hours. After this time, food ends up in the second large section of the intestinal tract - the large intestine. The process begins with the cecum, the goal of which is based on maximizing the absorption of moisture remaining in the food pulp. When the cecum considers its mission completed, the chyme continues to move and then enters in stages into the four sections of the colon before ending up in the rectum.
Food converted into chyme “travels” through the gastrointestinal tract for an average of 15 hours. At the finish line, only fecal contents remain in the colon. This fecal matter is useless and therefore leaves the CT through the rectum.
If we consider that the average person eats food every 3-4 hours, then we can come to the conclusion that all sections and components of the digestive organs function smoothly. At the same time, the gastrointestinal tract departments work in parallel.
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How long does the human intestine reach?
The total length of the small intestine, depending on the characteristics of the organism, ranges from 1.99 meters 74 cm to 4 meters 88 cm (it is important to consider that there is not enough research on this topic, so the figures are arbitrary).
The length of the large intestine is usually no more than one and a half meters. If you sum up the length of the two main sections of the intestinal tract, you can calculate how long the human intestine is: from 423-424 centimeters to 6 meters 38 centimeters.
Previously, experiments were conducted to determine how long the human intestine can reach. The given average statistical values differ from the indicators obtained scientifically: researchers have found that they depend on the individual parameters of a person. Age, body type, eating habits and much more play a key role. Some respondents who agreed to donate their bodies for the development of science had intestinal lengths reaching 8-9 meters.
Types and signs
The clinical picture of the diseases is very diverse. Manifestations depend on the cause of the pathology, the severity, duration of the course and the presence of complications.
Irritable bowel syndrome
The disease is caused by a psychoemotional disorder, a violation of intestinal motility. The pain is located in the lower abdomen and radiates to other parts. Colic occurs, a feeling of intestinal distension, rumbling, and bloating are observed.
After an urgent urge, loose stools begin. There is a feeling of incomplete bowel movement. Diarrhea may give way to constipation. The condition is accompanied by aggression, irritability, or vice versa, depression, fears. A person is haunted by thoughts about his own health, and there is a fear of going out into the street where there is no toilet.
General information about the intestines
No matter how long a person's intestines are, they are home to trillions of different types of bacteria. Naturally, such close proximity extols the role of third-party microorganisms in our body - they directly interact with all organs and regulate human well-being. The digestive departments are responsible for the functioning of all organs and systems - from the skin to the heart.
Most of the body's immune cells are concentrated in the intestines. It is therefore not surprising that your overall well-being depends on the health of your gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, of all the organs, only the intestines are capable of extracting valuable microelements from food, which are later converted into energy consumed by the body in the process of life.
Small intestine
The first section of the tract, although longer than the large intestine, received its name due to its small diameter. It is located in the abdomen closer to the lower part. Structurally, the section attaches the large intestine to the previous instance of food intake and digestion - the stomach.
In the small intestine, total breakdown of nutrients occurs. Its task is to maximally absorb substances and microelements valuable for the body, which are then transported into the blood.
The small intestine, in addition to its main purpose, is also directly involved in the process of synthesis of vitamins and some hormonal elements. For example, this section produces cholecystokinin, which controls appetite and can influence overall mood.
The section of the gastrointestinal tract under consideration is represented by three intestines of different lengths and purposes: ileum, duodenum, and jejunum.
Colon
The large intestine goes around the entire small intestine. The sections are connected by a valve, which nature provided to separate the different contents.
The large intestine, one might say, is deprived of nutrients and fluid: the small intestine processes food into virtually useless feces. However, the liquid substance and some elements, such as vitamins A, E and D, are transported into the blood here. However, the main task of the intestine is considered to be the formation of feces and its removal from the system.
The second large section of the CT scan includes the cecum, colon and rectum, as well as the anal canal, through which the process of emptying is carried out.
Functions
The small intestine is a kind of digestive transport conveyor. The intestinal loops have great mobility, moving nutrients through the intestines, where they are processed and absorbed.
The small intestine takes part in all stages of digestion. Food, previously processed in the mouth by saliva and hydrochloric acid in the stomach, is exposed to bile and pancreatic juice. Together with the enzymes that the intestine itself produces, the food coma is split into individual elements.
Proteins are transformed into amino acids, carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars, fat is divided into smaller particles. As a result, the resulting substances are absorbed by small blood and lymphatic vessels. In addition to digestion, absorption and transportation, the small intestine also performs other functions:
- synthesis of hormones and vitamins;
- immune protection;
- accumulative process;
- barrier;
- excretory
The intestinal tube is a kind of reservoir. It is always filled with the food we eat. The digestion process takes hours. Therefore, the food mass, including all useful substances and enzymes, is stored for a long time.
Some drugs, toxins and poisons that come through the mouth begin to be absorbed only in the small intestine.
In this case, the barrier function controls the intake of components, the balance of beneficial and pathogenic organisms, and maintains the composition of the microflora. This is why the proper functioning and integrity of the small intestine is so important.
Conclusions and comparisons
Intestinal length is an individual parameter. According to available research data, the combined length of the large and small intestine reaches at least 4 meters 50 centimeters in an adult. The sections of the small intestine collectively reach 2 meters 70 centimeters or more in length, the large intestine - on average one and a half meters.
If it is difficult to visually imagine the length of the large and small intestines, comparisons will help:
- When stretched, the length of the large intestine is comparable to the height of a short person. The diameter of the large intestine may vary. The thinnest areas in visual representation are no wider than the thumb.
- When expanded, the average person's small intestine is longer than the length of a cargo van.
- The total area of the CT is only half that of a badminton court.
Without the intestines, as is known, it is impossible to fully break down and absorb components that have nutritional value. The length of the organ does not affect the quality of the digestive process, unless we are talking about forced surgical treatment, when resection of part of the intestine is expected. When the intestinal tract loses sections and decreases in length due to surgical treatment, digestive functions suffer.
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Causes of diseases
Impaired epithelial functions occur due to a decrease in the number of cells and changes in their structure. For this reason, digestion time is reduced, and therefore absorption. When the muscle layer suffers, the movement of blood and lymph worsens. The delivery of incoming food elements is reduced.
As a result, the digestion process is disrupted and food is in transit. Pathogenic intestinal bacteria begin to use it, and their increased growth occurs. Therefore, it is important to prevent destruction and damage to the epithelial layer. Otherwise, a deficiency of elements occurs and inflammation develops.
Diseases of the small intestine are divided into functional, congenital, inflammatory and tumor. The following reasons can provoke them:
- infections;
- injuries or surgery;
- eating unhealthy food;
- alcoholism and smoking;
- stress;
- some medications.
Congenital pathology is detected during the first years of a child’s life. The development of the tumor process is typical for older people.
Differences
The main difference between the two sections of the intestine is the functions they perform. After all, the main function of the small intestine is the absorption of nutrients, and the large intestine is fecal formation. They also have different diameters, in thick ones it ranges from 4 to 9 cm, in thin ones - from 2 to 4 cm.
The color of the large intestine should be grayish, and the small intestine should be pink. The large intestine has outgrowths and protrusions. The large intestine is approximately 5.5 mm thick, and the small intestine is almost 2 times thinner. Based on all of the above, you can understand the principles by which the digestive system works. Now you know where the intestines are in women
, and what functions it performs.
Diagnostics
Diseases of the small intestine do not have specific manifestations. Therefore, hardware research is necessary to find out the reasons. Blood and stool tests make it possible to determine whether there is a deficiency of microelements, a lack of vitamins, or the presence of hidden bleeding. The examination is carried out using the following methods:
- X-ray with a barium mixture determines the functional characteristics and patency of the small intestine.
- Ultrasound with a contrast agent provides more data than x-ray examination.
- Endoscopy makes it possible to see the condition of the mucous membrane and sphincters. It is possible to take material for histology.
- Using MRI and CT, volumetric processes are detected.
To check the condition of the intestines throughout and detect any pathology, capsule endoscopy is performed.
Capsule endoscopy is a modern but rather expensive method that uses a capsule with a video recorder
Differential diagnosis with appendicitis, pancreatitis, peritonitis will be required. Renal colic, as well as pneumonia and pleurisy, should be excluded. The person may be having an angina attack or an acute heart attack.
