Lesson 3.3: Large Intestine

The next part of the digestive system is the large intestine.  How long do you think the large intestine is?  There is nothing large about the length of it compared to the small intestine.  The large intestine measures up to 1.5 m long, your height is likely more than that.   The large intestine is about 7.5 cm in diameter which is about the diameter of a large plastic plumbing pipe.  That is why they call it the large intestine.  The liquid coming from the small intestine to the large intestine still contains nutrients that were not absorbed into the bloodstream.  Read "Large Intestine" on page 209 of your textbook to learn what happens in the large intestine.

Question 1. What process occurs in the large intestine?

Question 2. What is absorbed from the large intestine into the bloodstream?

Question 3. What is stored in the large intestine?

 

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What process occurs in the large intestine?

Absorption of nutrients occurs in the large intestine. 

Question 2. What is absorbed from the large intestine into the bloodstream?

Water, minerals, and vitamins are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Question 3. What is temporarily stored in the large intestine?

The remaining wastes from digestion are temporarily stored in the large intestine.

 


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