Intestine
Get the answers you’re looking for about your intestine
By Jarrett Kruse
The intestine is the portion of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus. It is divided into two major sections—the small intestine and large intestine. The small intestine is about 6 meters or 20 feet long and it is coiled in the center of the abdominal activity. The small intestine is divided into 3 sections: upper, jejunum, and ileum. The lining of the small intestine secretes a hormone called secretin which stimulates the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. The large intestine has a larger width but is only 1.5 meters or 5 feet long and is divided into 6 parts: the cecum: ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum.
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The intestines complete the process of digestion by breaking down the food we consume on a daily basis. Most chemical digestion and absorption of food occur in the small intestine. The intestinal glands release digestive enzymes and mucus to aid the digestive system. Nutrients are absorbed throughout the small intestine to avoid any intestine problems. Glucose, amino acids, water-soluble vitamins, and minerals are absorbed into the blood vessels that then carry the completely digested food throughout the body to avoid intestine disease.
A perforated colon, also referred to as diverticulitis may occur throughout the digestive tract. It is most commonly seen in the descending colon and the sigmoid. A perforated colon is made up of a herniation of mucosa through the colonic muscle. They vary in size from as small as five to ten millimeters up to two centimeters. If the diverticulum becomes blocked by feces, it can be followed by an infection. The older you get, the higher the chances of getting a perforated colon are amplified. People who most commonly experience a perforated colon are middle aged and elderly. The condition is very rare in people ages forty and younger unless they suffer from obesity. A perforated colon is most commonly found in the United States, Europe and Australia.
