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Difference between Small Intestine and Large Intestine

Difference between Small Intestine and Large Intestine

The small intestine and the large intestine are two important parts of the digestive system. Though they both play a role in digesting food, they have different functions. The small intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients from food, while the large intestine absorbs water and prepares undigested material for elimination. Knowing the differences between these two organs can help you understand how your digestive system works.

What is Small Intestine?

The small intestine is a long, coiled tube that connects the stomach to the large intestine. It is about 20 feet long and 1 inch in diameter. The small intestine has three main sections: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The small intestine is where most chemical digestion and absorption of food takes place. The inner surface of the small intestine is lined with tiny, finger-like projections called villi. Each villus is covered with even smaller projections called microvilli. The combination of villi and microvilli provides a large surface area for absorption. The small intestine also secretes digestive enzymes and hormones that help in the digestion process. Most digested food is absorbed into the bloodstream through the small intestine walls and sent to different parts of the body to be used as energy or stored as fat. Undigested food moves from the small intestine into the large intestine (colon) where it is eventually eliminated as feces.

What is a Large Intestine?

The large intestine is a long, coiled tube that makes up the final part of the gastrointestinal tract. It starts at the end of the small intestine and ends at the rectum. The large intestine absorbs water, electrolytes, and vitamins produced by gut bacteria. It also stores feces before they are eliminated through the rectum. The large intestine is about 1.5 meters long and about 7.5 centimeters in diameter. Unlike the small intestine, which has a lot of finger-like projections called villi, the Large Intestine has very few villi. The Large Intestine is divided into four parts: the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. The cecum is a pouch-like sac that connects the Large Intestine to the small intestine. The colon is divided into four parts: the ascending colon, descending colon, transverse colon, and sigmoid colon. The rectum is the passageway that connects the Large Intestine to the anal canal. The anal canal is about 4 centimeters long and lined with a mucus membrane. It’s where feces are stored until they are eliminated through bowel movements.

Difference between Small Intestine and Large Intestine

The small intestine and large intestine are two types of intestines found in the gastrointestinal tract of human beings. The small intestine is a long, coiled tube that forms the major part of the gastrointestinal tract while the large intestine is shorter than the small intestine and has a wider lumen. The main function of the small intestine is to absorb nutrients from food while the large intestine mainly absorbs water and electrolytes from indigestible food matter. Both small and large intestines have finger-like projections called villi which help in the absorption of nutrients. The small intestine is further divided into three parts – duodenum, jejunum, and ileum while the large intestine is divided into caecum, colon, and rectum. The small intestine is about six meters long while the large intestine is only one meter long. The pH level of the small intestine is slightly acidic while that of the large intestine is slightly alkaline. The small intestine has more bacteria than the large intestine. Finally, the small intestine has a smooth muscle layer while the large intestine has a thick layer of smooth muscle.

Conclusion

The small intestine and the large intestine are two of the most important organs in the digestive system. They work together to extract nutrients from food and remove waste from the body. While they have many similarities, there are also some key differences between these two organs.

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