Small & Large Intestines: Intestinal Structure, Function, Diseases

Gut structure and function The longest part of the intestine is the small intestine (6-7 m). This is where most of the nutrients from food are absorbed. However, folds, villi, and microscopic cellular protrusions increase the surface area of small intestine, giving the entire intestine an area about the size of a 1-room apartment

The intelligent intestinal barrier

The intestinal wall has two central tasks: Prevent harmful microorganisms and substances from passing through the intestinal wall into the blood, while at the same time being permeable to the nutrients it absorbs.

• This is referred to as an “intelligent intestinal barrier”, and it is precisely regulated as to what is allowed to pass through and what is not.

The Gut is our Second Brain

The intestine is our second brain, the so-called abdominal brain. Its main task is to control the movement and emptying of the intestines.

• Conscious control is not possible because it is not dependent on the brain in the head, but it has a direct line to the brain and back, known as the gut-brain axis.

Colon Cleansing

This is an artificially induced thorough emptying of the entire intestine.

Appendicitis

This inflammation of the appendix occurs when only the so-called appendix is affected

Nutrient absorption

In order to absorb as many nutrients as possible into the bloodstream; the mucosa of the small intestine is strongly folded in the shape of fingers, which creates more surface area.

• Villi are finger-shaped elevations of the mucosal surface that serve primarily to absorb components of food.
• For the absorption of nutrients, the epithelium of the villi consists mainly of cells of the endoplasmic reticulum (enterocytes) that carry numerous microvilli and special transporters on the side facing the lumen.

Colon

The large intestine is about 1.5 meters long and only makes up about a fifth of the length of the gastrointestinal tract. It consists of five parts: Cecum Ascending Colon, Transverse Colon, Descending colon, Sigmoid colon and the four main functions of the colon are: Thickening of the feed mash, Absorption of electrolytes, Dietary fiber digestion, Production and absorption of vitamins, and Vitamin production and absorption.

Overview of Intestinal Bacteria

39 trillion microbial organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi live in the intestine

• 1000 different species of bacteria, which bring a variety of genetic properties and are beneficial to humans
• In total, the bacteria contain over 3 million genes for this purpose, whereas humans possess only 22 thousand genes
• Not all intestinal bacteria are good, there are also “bad” representatives, such as pathogens

Small Intestine

The small intestine is a 5 to 7 meter long tubular organ that connects to the gastric porter (med. Pylorus) and can be divided into three sections: Duodenum, Jejunum Ileum and Gastric Portal

• It has two main functions: digestion and absorption of nutrients

Build up Intestinal Flora

The goal is to restore the balance of the intestinal flora as quickly as possible.

• It is therefore advisable, in the case of disturbed intestinal function, to give one’s own intestinal flora a leg up – this can be done with a healthier diet, more exercise and stress reduction in combination with intestinal rehabilitation using probiotics.

Digestion

Digestion is the process of breaking down food into the smallest possible components.

• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Protein digestion occurs through the breakdown of amino acid bonds
• Fats (lipids)
• Most of the digestion of triglycerides takes place in the upper part of the small intestine.

Diseases of the Intestines

Dysbiosis

Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A lot of people suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A large number of factors are involved in the clinical picture including inflammation of the intestinal flora, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and inflammatory arthritis.

What are bacterial strains?

To gain a correct insight into the diversity of human intestinal bacteria, it is first necessary to understand how bacteria can be categorized.

• In order to assign bacteria, one uses a hierarchical system, the highest classification of which is the domain and the lowest the bacterial phylum: domain, division, order, family, genus, species, species (species) à phylum.

The Intestinal Flora

The totality of microorganisms that colonize the intestine and are of vital importance to the host organism is colloquially referred to as the intestinal flora.

• When medicine first discovered microorganisms in the gut, they were thought to be harmful.
• Now known that intestinal bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining the immune system as well as metabolic and digestive function.

Diverticulitis

Diverticula are balloon-like protrusions in the colon. The mere presence of diverticula that does not yet cause symptoms is called diverticulosis.

• In 1 in 5 of those affected, diverticuntosis can lead to unpleasant intestinal complaints as it progresses.

Inflammation of the small bowel

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headache, or abdominal pain.

• The cause is often the consumption of food containing pathogenic germs, such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Yersinia and Listeria.

Conclusion

The human intestinal flora (microbiota) consists of trillions of intestinal bacteria that play an important role in digestive and metabolic processes as well as being part of the immune system.

• An imbalance of the intestinal flora can contribute to the formation of intestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

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