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The length of the small intestine can vary greatly, from as short as 3 metres (10 feet) to as long as 10.5 m (34 + 1 ⁄ 2 ft), also depending on the measuring technique used. [3] The typical length in a living person is 3–5 m (10– 16 + 1 ⁄ 2 ft). [4] [5] The length depends both on how tall the person is and how the length is measured. [3]
Gastrointestinal physiology is the branch of human physiology that addresses the physical function of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.The function of the GI tract is to process ingested food by mechanical and chemical means, extract nutrients and excrete waste products.
The large intestine primarily serves as a site for fermentation of indigestible matter by gut bacteria and for resorption of water from digests before excretion. In mammals , preparation for digestion begins with the cephalic phase in which saliva is produced in the mouth and digestive enzymes are produced in the stomach .
The large intestine, also called the colon, forms an arch starting at the cecum and ending at the rectum and anal canal. It also includes the appendix, which is attached to the cecum. Its length is about 1.5 m, and the area of the mucosa in an adult human is about 2 m 2 (22 sq ft). [19] Its main function is to absorb water and salts.
The cecum is a pouch marking the division between the small intestine and the large intestine. It lies below the ileocecal valve in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. [33] The cecum receives chyme from the last part of the small intestine, the ileum, and connects to the ascending colon of the large intestine. At this junction there is a ...
The duodenum is a short section of the small intestine located between the stomach and the rest of the small intestine. The duodenum also produces the hormone secretin to stimulate the pancreatic secretion of large amounts of sodium bicarbonate , which then raises pH of the chyme to 7.
The intestine is cut into pieces 20–25 cm long, which are bound together with white thread, forming rings. When cooked, the combination of heat and the enzyme rennet in the intestines coagulates the chyme and creates a sort of thick, creamy, cheese-like sauce.
The normal thickness of the small intestinal wall is 3–5 mm, [6] and 1–5 mm in the large intestine. [7] Focal, irregular and asymmetrical gastrointestinal wall thickening suggests a malignancy. [7] Segmental or diffuse gastrointestinal wall thickening is most often due to ischemic, inflammatory or infectious disease. [7]