It also offers tips on how to keep your large intestine healthy to avoid disease.
The large intestine is so named because of its width.
It is approximately 3 inches in diameter compared to the small intestine which is closer to 1 inch.
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What Is a Tortuous Colon?
Atortuous colon, also known as a redundant colon, is one that is longer than normal.
Each plays a specific role in digestion and your digestive health.
Colon
The colon is the largest part of the large intestine.
It is tasked with extracting key nutrients and any remaining water from the indigestible material to form stool.
From start to finish, the colon is between 60 and 65 inches long.
It acts as a temporary storage site for feces until it is ready to be passed (defecated).
The internal sphincter next to the sigmoid colon is involuntary and opens and closes when needed.
Anus
The anus is the external passageway through which feces exit the body.
Running about two inches, the anus is wheremucosal membranesin the digestive tract change to normal skin.
When you are ready to defecate, the internal sphincter helps push stool out of the body.
The final grooved section (where mucosal tissues turn to skin) is called the anal valve.
This is the area populated with nerves that can sense pain, itch, heat, and cold.
The rest of the large intestine lacks sensory nerves.
However, many conditions like cancer, IBS, IBD, and colon cancerareinfluenced by what you do.
It also houses gut bacteria that influence your overall health by interacting with the central nervous system.
A gastroenterologist can help diagnose, treat, and prevent these and other conditions affecting the large intestine.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.In brief: how does the intestine work?
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National Institutes of Health.Redundant colon as a cause of constipation.
National Library of Medicine.Gastrointestinal diseases.
