Dorothy FarrarCruel intestine
The colon (also known as the large intestine ) is the middle section of the large intestine. The colon consists of four sections and stretches from the appendix to the rectum.
Definition
The colon has a length of about 1.5 meters. The lumen is around eight centimeters. The shape of the colon is reminiscent of an upside down U. The inverted U then frames the small intestine . The large intestine or colon ensures that water and electrolytes are recovered and that they are broken down into different food components.
Anatomy
The beginning of the colon is just after the appendix (lower right abdomen). In that area, for example, the small intestine flows into the large intestine. Bauhin’s valve forms the transition, which prevents the contents of the intestine from flowing back into the small intestine.
After the transition begins the colon, which ends again at the beginning of the rectum. The colon has a four-layer wall structure, with the innermost wall layer being a mucous membrane (mucosa), which is also divided into three layers as it progresses.
The lymph and blood vessels , which subsequently supply the large intestine, run in the connective tissue layer that follows. The nerves , which are known as the submucosal plexus, also run in the connective tissue layer . Below that layer is the tunica muscularis, a classic muscle layer.
Function
The so-called Bauhin valve ensures that the chyme is passed into the appendix. This is followed by the typical wave-shaped contraction, which is triggered by the colon muscles, through the nerve plexuses. The mixing movement differs from the transport movement.
The mixing movement is due to circular muscle contraction and runs over a very short distance. It also ensures that the intestinal contents are thoroughly mixed. In this way, it is possible to ensure that important nutrients are reabsorbed.
The mixing movements occur at 15-minute intervals – around four times an hour. Transport movements are much rarer. These are the so-called peristaltic waves that transport the chyme to the rectum. Those waves pass through the intestines up to three times a day. This is usually followed by defecation.
The colon is primarily concerned with the recovery of electrolytes and water. About a liter of fluid is removed from the colon each day.
Diseases
- diverticula
A classic disease is inflammation of the colon. That is called colitis. The patient complains of pain and diarrhea . Ulcerative colitis is a special form that is one of the classic chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. This causes damage to the mucous membranes; as a result, ulcers form, which not only cause severe cramps , but also bloody diarrhea.
Another intestinal disease that takes a chronic inflammatory course is Crohn’s disease. This can affect not only the colon, but also the small intestine. Diarrhea and indigestion also occur in Crohn’s disease. Both diseases belong to the category of autoimmune diseases .
If there are bulges in the intestinal wall, doctors call them diverticula. If food residues collect in the diverticula, inflammation then occurs, so that diverticulitis occurs.
The symptoms are reminiscent of appendicitis , where the pain is localized on the left side of the lower abdomen or diverticulitis is often confused with acute appendicitis if the patient has not yet had an operation.
Furthermore, carcinomas can occur in the colon. Around 95 percent of all tumors are malignant. However, the symptoms are uncharacteristic. Blood in the stool or sudden stool changes can be indications of tumor formation. Other causes are pencil stools, foul-smelling flatulence or the constant alternation between diarrhea and constipation .
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.