What happens to the fat we take in meals? When we eat fat, it is digested and absorbed in our gastrointestinal tract. Some fat is not absorbed and excreted. Fat is one of the three macronutrients of human food, along with carbohydrates and proteins. Fat is a very good source of energy and essential for cell formation and vitamin absorption. It is vital for good health. However, an excess of fat is hazardous for our health. Let us delve into the fate of fat in our body. Digestion of fat: Lipids are large molecules, and unlike carbohydrates and proteins, they are not soluble in water and do not mix with the watery blood. So, they like to cluster together in large droplets in a liquid surrounding the gastrointestinal tract. The digestive process breaks those large droplets of fat into smaller droplets, and then enzymes digest lipid molecules using enzymes called lipase. In the mouth: Chewing breaks food into smaller particles and mixes them with saliva. Lingual lipase be
Movements of the large intestine
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The large intestine has four parts: the caecum, the colon, the rectum, and the anal canal.
Keywords: large intestine, mass movement, Colonocolonicreflex, colon, Gastrocolicreflex.
The large intestine has four parts: the caecum, the colon, the rectum, and the anal canal. The colon is the most significant part of the large intestine. The colon is divided into four parts: the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon.
But movements of the large intestine are also known as colonic movements.
Types of movements of the large intestine :
1. Segmental
2. Peristalsis
3. Mass movement or mass colonic peristalsis
Mass colonic movements are peristaltic contractions that push the colon's contents into the rectum with force .and finally lead to the defecation reflex. Mass movements are not affected by colostomy. Its frequency is 3-4 /day and usually after a meal.
Aim of movements:
1. Digestion
2. Absorption
3. Propulsion
Segmental movement of the large intestine is haustral contractions. It is like segmental movements of the small intestine. Haustra becomes more prominent in these contractions and causes the mixing of chyme.
It occurs due to the contraction of the circular muscle layer. When a small segment of the large intestine contracts, a small segment of the large intestine distal to it dilates, now the dilating segment contracts and segment distal to it dilates. In this way, the mixing of food occurs. This movement causes the mixing of the content present in the large intestine and its absorption. This segmental movement is like that of the small intestine.
Peristalsis: Propulsive movements are like peristalsis of the small intestine. The propulsive movements are prolonged and push the content in the large intestine downwards towards the rectum.
Mass movement or mass peristalsis is specific to the large intestine. Mass colonic movements or mass colonic peristalsis are strong peristaltic contractions that push the contents from the colon into the rectum with force and finally lead to the defecation reflex. This movement is not affected by colostomy. Its frequency is 3-4 /day and usually after a meal.
A 15-20 cm segment of the large intestine contracts and persists for 3 to 5 minutes. This mass movement rapidly increases pressure in the lumen of that segment and propels the large intestine's content downwards towards the rectum.
The movements of the large intestine, mixing segmentation and peristalsis, help in the absorption of nutrients and propulsion of the content. In addition, the mass movement pushes the content towards the rectum.
The genesis of movements in the large intestine is very complex.
Reflexes :
Colonocolonic reflex is the relaxation of the entire colon in response to the enlargement of one part of the colon. Sympathetic nerve fibers partly mediate this reflex.
Gastrocolic reflex: When food accumulates in the stomach, it causes motility of the proximal and distal colon, stimulating the desire for defecation. This reflex is well developed in children and mediated by gastrin, not by neural factors.
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Very informative and nice presentation.
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