What does intestines

After passing through your small intestine, food then moves to the large intestine. Around five feet long, the large intestine absorbs salts and liquid left over from the digestive process. Most nutrients are already absorbed by the time food enters your large intestine.

Some substances are left over, including:. After passing through the colon for reabsorption, these substances exit your body in the form of waste through your anus. Your intestines have the largest surface area in your body, around square meters, which allows your body to achieve maximum food absorption.

Many diseases can affect your intestines, causing painful symptoms, like diarrhea , fever and fatigue, abdominal pain, cramping, weight loss and reduced appetite, and more. While many intestinal diseases and conditions can be treated with medicines, lifestyle changes, and other therapies, some diseases may require an intestinal transplant.

Although it is considered a major surgery, many patients are able to restore their normal diet. Send us feedback. Middle English, from Middle French intestin , from Latin intestinum , from neuter of intestinus. See more words from the same century. Accessed 12 Nov. More Definitions for intestine. See the full definition for intestine in the English Language Learners Dictionary.

Nglish: Translation of intestine for Spanish Speakers. Britannica English: Translation of intestine for Arabic Speakers. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Log in Sign Up. Save Word. Definition of intestine Entry 1 of 2. Definition of intestine Entry 2 of 2. Illustration of intestine Noun intestine: A large intestine, B small intestine In the meaning defined above. Did you know? The most important factor for regulating secretions in the small intestine is the presence of chyme.

This is largely a local reflex action in response to chemical and mechanical irritation from the chyme and in response to distention of the intestinal wall. This is a direct reflex action, thus the greater the amount of chyme, the greater the secretion. The large intestine is larger in diameter than the small intestine. It begins at the ileocecal junction , where the ileum enters the large intestine, and ends at the anus.

The large intestine consists of the colon , rectum , and anal canal. The wall of the large intestine has the same types of tissue that are found in other parts of the digestive tract but there are some distinguishing characteristics. The mucosa has a large number of goblet cells but does not have any villi. The longitudinal muscle layer, although present, is incomplete. The longitudinal muscle is limited to three distinct bands, called teniae coli, that run the entire length of the colon.