Changes

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

The large intestine extends from the [[Ileum - Anatomy & Physiology|ileum]] of the [[Small Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|small intestine]] to the [[Anus - Anatomy & Physiology|anus]]. Water, electrolytes and nutrients are absorbed, concentrating the ingesta into faeces. Faeces are stored prior to defeacation. No chemical digestion takes place; there is no secretion of enzymes. All species have a large microbial population living in the large intestine, which is of particular importance to the [[Hindgut Fermenters - Anatomy & Physiology|hindgut fermenters]]. For this reason, hindgut fermenters have a more complex large intestine with highly specialised regions for fermentation.

The large intestine extends from the [[Ileum - Anatomy & Physiology|ileum]] of the [[Small Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|small intestine]] to the [[Anus - Anatomy & Physiology|anus]]. Water, electrolytes and nutrients are absorbed, concentrating the ingesta into faeces. Faeces are stored prior to defeacation. There is no secretion of enzymes and any digestion that takes place is carried out by microbes. All species have a large microbial population living in the large intestine, which is of particular importance to the [[Hindgut Fermenters - Anatomy & Physiology|hindgut fermenters]]. For this reason, hindgut fermenters have a more complex large intestine with highly specialised regions for fermentation.

The large intestine can be divided into:

The large intestine can be divided into: