Digestive System Intestines
The intestines are sectioned into two major portions which are the small intestines and large intestines. The work horse of the intestines is the small intestine where most of the food chyme is absorbed into the body. The small intestine is named that because of the diameter of the lumen and not because of it’s 20 feet in length. There are three subsections of the small intestine which are the dueodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Food is moved along the path by peristalsis contractions and skeletal movement of the body. Chyme has the consistency of soup and is also found in the small intestines as mentioned above.
The multiple circular folds in the small intestines are called plicae. On the inside of the intestines the inner wall is covered with millions of tiny little “fingers” which absorb the chyme that is passing through the small intestine called villi. Comb-like structures called micro-villi are on those villi that increase the surface area of the villi for absorption of nutrients within the chyme. Salt and water are reabsorbed in the small intestine.
The small intestine’s C-shaped structure is called the dueodenum. 1 out of 10 Americans suffer from ulcers which is a disorder that affects the stomach and the duodenum of the small intestine. Many medications are currently on the market to fight the acid in the stomach and small intestine so that the ulcers are given a chance to repair itself in the digestive tract. The pancreas is a organ which rests in part in the C-shaped structure of the small intestine the pancreas as you may remember from previousarticle is in the endocrine and exocrine systems of the body. The pancreatic juice that the pancreas produces is the most important because it is an enzyme that breaks down all three of the major food groups. The pancreas also as an endocrine glad secretes hormones using the Islets of Langerhans.
The gallbladder is a structure that concentrates and stores bile which is produced by the liver. If this bladder is blocked a common condition occurs which is the formation of gallstones. 1 out of 10 Americans will suffer from gallstones this disorder usually occurs with rapid weight loss. Gallstones block this common bile duct, a symptom is feces will appear gray-white and skin may become jaundice or yellowish looking. medical attention should be sought after immediately.
The Liver the largest gland in the body, uses the prefix “hepar” which refers to this body part. The liver is an exocrine gland which secretes bile. Bile in combination with salts uses a process of emulsification to break down fats.
The large intestine is named that considers its diameter which is larger than the small intestine. The large intestine is actually 15 feet short than the small intestine. The connection between small intestine and large intestine is the ileocecal valve undigested and unabsorbed food enters the large intestine from the small intestine through this structure. In the large intestine bacteria carries out further digestion by breaking down food material that can still be used in the body. This bacteria is responsible for synthesis of vitamin K and some B-complex vitamins. Vitamin K is very important for the body it is used in blood clotting and production of B-Complex vitamins. The time it takes for food to pass through the large intestine is 3 -5 days normally.
Massage therapist should always massage the abdomen in a clockwise manner because of the large intestinal path from the right side of the abdomen is the ascending large intestine and on the left is the descending large intestine. Otherwise constipation will occur because you are applying pressure in the opposite direction that the muscles of the intestine are trying to push food.
When food passes through the large intestine faster is results in diarrhea, the opposite condition is when food passes through too slowly which causes constipation.
The appendix or vermiform appendix as it is called in medical terms is considered part of the digestive system however, it servers no important function in humans. The appendix does contain lymphatic tissue and is called the appendix because it is worm-shaped.
The intestines or abdominal cavity is covered by a large, moist, slippery sheet of serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the organs.
