Tag: busy at work - our internal organs

The small intestine in adults is a long and narrow tube about 7 meters (23 feet) long. The large intestine is so called because it is wide in diameter. However, it is shorter than the small intestine - only about 1.5 meters (5 feet) long. 

The process in which the complex and insoluble contents of food are converted into simpler and soluble substances, suitable for absorption and assimilation is called digestion. The food is digested by the digestive system with the help of digestive enzymes.  The usable materials are absorbed by the small intestine and the unusable food is passed on to the large intestine where the water is absorbed and moves to the anus for removal. Hence, the digestive system processes food into usable and unusable materials. The usable materials are sent to the body's cells as food and unusable material goes into the large intestine to await disposal.

Food is digested in three steps i.e mouth, stomach and small intestine. The undigested food is passed through large intestine. Large intestine larger diameter as compared to small intestine but is smaller in length.

Food is digested in small intestine. No digestion takes place in large intestine. Salt and water is absorbed by the large intestine to maintain Osmo regulation.

Digestion ends in small intestine. Waste products are excreted from our body through large intestine. Excess water and salts are absorbed from intestine through muscular finger like projections called Villi.

Putrefaction is the decomposition of proteins caused due to bacterial or fungal decomposition of organic matter. The bacteria, yeast and other organisms in the fermented food allow colon to produce good bacteria. The fermented foods increase B vitamins such as riboflavin, thiamin and niacin. The activated form of folic acid is increased, which helps in cardiovascular and cancer risks. Choline is increased, which breaks down fat in the body and liver and helps with constipation. In addition, fermentation increases glutathione, an anti aging amino acid, and enzymes needed for digestion and detoxification.

The main function of the colon is absorption of much of the water from undigested food and leaving the solid material as faeces.

The digestive system starts with the mouth, followed by the food pipe or oesophagus that opens into the stomach. The stomach secretes acid and powerful enzymes that continue the process of breaking the food down into simpler substances. From there, food moves to the small intestine, which is made up of three segments, i.e., the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.