Measuring around 15 feet, your intestines break down and absorb essential nutrients from food and drinks. These nutrients are then transported into your bloodstream.
Your intestines are a crucial part of your digestive system. They’re where most of the vitamins and nutrients from food are broken down and absorbed into your bloodstream.
Intestines do a lot of work to help give you the energy and nourishment you need to stay healthy, and to function and thrive every day.
So, have you ever wondered how your intestines work or how long they are? We’ll help you better understand what your intestines do.
Your small intestine runs from your stomach to your large intestine. It continues the process of digestion that started in your stomach.
The small intestine absorbs nutrients and water from digested food. In fact,
Your small intestine is divided into three different parts:
- Duodenum: In the duodenum various enzymes, including those from the pancreas and liver, are used to further break down and absorb partially digested nutrients from the stomach.
- Jejunum: Further digestion and absorption occurs in the jejunum.
- Ileum: The ileum absorbs any remaining nutrients that weren’t absorbed in the jejunum. It’s connected to the first part of your large intestine, called the cecum.
A variety of health conditions can affect the small intestine. These include:
The
The different sections of the small intestine are also different lengths. The ileum is the longest section while the duodenum is the shortest.
Since it’s so long, you may wonder why the small intestine is called “small” in the first place. This terminology actually refers to the diameter of the small intestine, which is about 1 inch (around 2.5 centimeters).
Despite its small diameter, the small intestine actually has a very high surface area. That’s because its walls are actually covered in folds and hair-like projections. This increased surface area allows for more absorption of nutrients and water.
Your large intestine runs from your small intestine to your anus.
It absorbs water and electrolytes from the food you’ve eaten. Any remaining food products that aren’t absorbed in the large intestine become stool.
Additionally, bacteria found in the large intestine can help to further break down any remaining nutrients. Vitamins such as vitamin K are also produced in the large intestine.
Like the small intestine, the large intestine consists of several different parts:
- Cecum: The cecum receives food from the small intestine. It’s involved in absorption of water and electrolytes.
- Colon: The colon consists of several parts — the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. Like the cecum, it absorbs water and electrolytes.
- Rectum: Undigested food material moves from the colon to the rectum. The rectum holds stool until it can be eliminated from the body.
- Anus: Stool passes through your anus and out of your body when you have a bowel movement.
There are also some specific health conditions that can affect the large intestine. Some of the most common include:
The large intestine is about
The colon is the longest portion of your large intestine. The other parts — the cecum, rectum, and anus — are all much shorter, only a few inches in length at the most.
The large intestine also has a larger diameter than the small intestine. It’s about 3 inches (around 7.6 centimeters) wide.
Together your small and large intestines are about 15 feet or more in length.
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Your intestines have the very important job of helping to break down and absorb nutrients from what you eat and drink. Once these nutrients are absorbed, they can be delivered via the bloodstream to the rest of your body.