The intestines of the human body are the section of the digestive tract that is between the stomach and anus. It is divided into two major sections: small intestine and large intestine.

The small intestine is about twenty feet long and includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The small intestine is where most of the digestion occurs. Most of the nutrients in food are absorbed in the small intestine.

The large intestine is the part of the intestine that begins at the cecum and ends at the rectum. It is five feet long and includes the appendix, cecum, colon, and rectum. The large intestine absorbs water and excretes solid waste material.

There are numerous diseases may develop if the intestines are not working properly. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is characterized by ongoing symptoms of irritation and ulcers in the intestines. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common disorders caused by IBD. Unlike IBD, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not a chronic disease and is caused by the over-activity of the nerves that control the muscles in the intestines. IBS causes abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation because of the intestines becoming too sensitive to food, stool, gas, and stress.

Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases associated with the National Institutes of Health.

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