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Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 11:36, 15 July 2008
, 11:36, 15 July 2008→Function
==Function==
==Function==
'''Water Absorption'''
'''Water Absorption'''
*Chyme entering the large intestine is semisolid. By the time chyme leaves the large intestine as faeces it should be solid because most of the remaining water is absorbed.
*Chyme entering the large intestine is semisolid. By the time chyme leaves the large intestine as faeces it is solid because most of the remaining water has been absorbed.
**Water absorption is achieved by the generation of an osmotic gradient between the gut lumen and the enterocytes. Sodium is transported into the enterocytes by active transport and is followed by chloride ions by passive movement.
**Water absorption is achieved by the generation of an osmotic gradient between the gut lumen and the enterocytes. Sodium is actively transported into the enterocyte and is followed passively by chloride ions.
'''Vitamin Absorption'''
'''Vitamin Absorption'''
*The large intestine is colonised by a large quantity of bacteria that produce vitamins as a consequence of their own metabolism. The large intestine absorbs these vitamins, in addition to vitamins present in the diet.
*The large intestine is colonised by a large quantity of bacteria that produce vitamins as a consequence of their own metabolism. The large intestine absorbs these vitamins, in addition to vitamins present in the diet.
'''Storage and Defecation'''
*Remaining water, waste and undigested food is stored as faeces prior to defecation. Defecation is the periodical expulsion of faeces into the environment.
==Vasculature==
==Vasculature==