Lower Gastrointestinal Tract (Lower GI Tract)
The lower part of the gastrointestinal tract that includes the jejunum and ileum of the small intestine and the large intestine.
Part of: Gastrointestinal Tract (GI Tract)
About the Intestines
The intestine is a winding muscular tube extending from the stomach to the anus. Its main purpose is to digest food. But the intestine is not only there for digestion: it also produces various substances that carry messages to other parts of the body, and plays an important role in fighting germs and regulating the body’s water balance. For some people, the intestine reflects how they are feeling: for instance, they might get a stomach ache, diarrhoea or constipation when they are stressed or upset about something.
The small intestine, which is directly connected to the stomach, is 3 to 5 m long and is made up of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The inside wall of the small intestine is folded like the body of an accordion. This makes the surface area very big and the food can make contact with a large number of intestinal cells.
In the small intestine, substances produced by the body (enzymes)… Read more about the Lower Gastrointestinal Tract
