Few people know what the intestines are in full, but this is a rather complex and important human organ. Even the most minor malfunction in his work or a violation of his blood supply can lead to dangerous diseases. Moreover, most of the food received is absorbed by the intestine and disturbances in its work lead to human depletion. In this regard, everyone should have at least elementary knowledge about the blood supply to the intestine, its functions and diseases.
Colon blood supply
The intestines are thick and thin. Each is represented by a separate blood supply system. Blood supply to the colon begins with the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. The watershed zone of the basins of both arteries is defined by the boundary between the middle and posterior sections of the primary intestine.
The superior mesenteric artery descends along the duodenum. Then it is divided into smaller branches. They go to the small intestine and further to the colon.
Blood supply to the colon is carried out by three branches of the artery, each of which provides blood circulation in its area. One of the arteries runs along the ileum to the ileocytic angle. The other is in the ascending colon and part of the colon. And the last - the third - large artery feeds the blood into the transverse colon.
The descending colon is secured by blood flow through the inferior mesenteric artery. Sigmoid eats in the same way.
The descending colon is the border, after which the descending artery is divided into processes, in an amount from 2 to 6 sigmoid arteries. Then they follow the intestine called the upper colon.
The superior rectal artery feeds the rectum.
Blood supply is not limited only to the intestines - veins and arteries provide blood circulation in the muscles, as well as the soft tissues of the peritoneum and peritoneum.
Blood circulation is built with independent anastomoses with portal and inferior vena cava. In the transverse colon, descending and ascending colon, blood supply is carried out by veins that have the same names as the arteries that feed these areas.
Small intestine
What is special about this organ department? Blood supply to the distal intestine, as well as its other components, is constantly exposed to overloads and blood flow disorders. This is due to the fact that sections of the small intestine are constantly in motion due to the passage of food. The diameter of the intestines varies, which should lead to constant kinks of blood vessels. But this does not happen due to the arcade arrangement of blood vessels.
Ascending and descending branches of arteries, arcade after arcade anastomose between themselves. Such arcades can be from 4 to 6 at the end of the small intestine, despite the fact that only the first-order arc is observed at the beginning of the intestine.
The intestinal arcade blood supply allows the intestines to move and expand in any direction. And with various pathologies, loops of the small intestine can be distinguished without disturbing the entire blood circulation.
Bowel function
Where is the intestine located? It is located in the abdominal cavity between the stomach and the anus. The conclusion follows from here: its main function is the allocation of food waste from the body. But this is not his only role in the body, there are a number of others:
- Strengthening immunity. The intestine performs this function in two ways - it does not allow dangerous microorganisms to penetrate the body, producing immunoglobulin and T-lymphocytes.
- In the process of secretory function, the intestines produce a number of enzymes and hormones necessary for the body to absorb food.
- The motor function is to move food along the entire length of the intestine to the anus.
- You need to understand that the intestine is a digestive organ, therefore its main function is the assimilation of useful trace elements and their transfer from food directly to human blood. For example, almost all glucose enters the blood through the walls of this organ. All these processes occur at the molecular level - the intestines carry out such delicate work.
Bowel length
The length of the intestines of a person throughout life is constantly changing. Firstly, it is due to age. In infancy, the total length of the intestines exceeds the height of a person by 8 times, and after stopping the growth of the body - only 6 times. The intestines grow especially fast during the transition from dairy to solid foods.
Since the muscle tone of this organ in all people is different, the length of the intestines in an adult can vary from 3 meters to 5. It is known that all muscles of a person relax after his death, and the intestine after death lengthens to 7 meters.
The diameter of the small intestine is from 2 to 4 cm, it is called the jejunum. And in the widest place in the colon, its diameter is 14-17 cm.
The diameter of the organ varies along its entire length, and individually. And where one person has a thickening of the intestine, another may have a narrowing on the contrary.
How is the intestine
The human intestine is represented by two sections - thin (longer) and thick (short but wide). The blood supply to the intestines in its different parts, as well as the functions are very different. Between the intestines there is a special valve that does not allow food from the colon back up. Food always moves in one direction - through the duodenum down to the rectum and further to the anus.
The muscle tissue of the intestinal wall is a structure of longitudinal and transverse fibers. They move without signals from the central nervous system, that is, a person does not control his peristalsis. Impulses of movement along the intestines are transmitted along the nerve fibers, which are widely braided over the entire intestine.
It is known where the intestine is located - in the abdominal cavity, but it does not just hang there - the intestines are attached to the walls of the peritoneum with special ligaments.
The human intestines excrete up to 3 liters of special juice saturated with various alkalis per day. This feature of it allows you to digest food passing through the body.
All intestines have a similar structure - from the inside they are covered by the mucous membrane, below it is the submucosa, then the muscles and their serous layer covers.
The small intestine is represented by several departments, which have their own functions. For example, in the duodenum there is a special duct through which bile from the liver enters it, finally digesting the food that has passed through the stomach.
The jejunum, immediately following the duodenum, breaks down peptins and disaccharides into amino acids and monosaccharides into elementary particles.
The next intestine - the ileum - absorbs bile acids and cyanocobalamin.
The large intestine also presents a complex structure. It includes the descending and ascending colon, sigmoid, rectum and blind process, ending with the appendix.
The main work of the large intestine is to remove fluid from the chyme by suctioning it through the walls and forming feces.
The large intestine ends with the rectum with receptors and anal sphincters located in it. With pressure on the stool receptors, the brain receives a signal about the fullness of the rectum and gives a command to begin defecation. After this, the sphincters relax and release feces.
What diseases is the intestine susceptible to?
The intestine is a very important organ for life in the human body. Like any organ, it is susceptible to various diseases, any of which leads not only to painful sensations in the abdominal cavity, but also affects the general well-being of a person and the state of the whole organism. For example, with severe diarrhea, a person rapidly loses body weight and strength. In the absence of treatment for such a pathology, the patient may simply die from exhaustion.
The type of disease also determines where pain occurs. Everyone knows that with inflammation of the appendix, pain most often occurs in the lower right side of the abdomen.
The main diseases of the intestine include pathologies such as ulcerative or infectious colitis, duodynitis, Crohn's disease, bowel obstruction, enterocolitis, enteritis and tuberculosis.
There are a number of pathologies, but they occur much less frequently - intestinal stenosis, duodenal hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome.
Symptoms of Bowel Disease
The main symptom of developing pathologies in the intestines is loose stools or constipation, nausea, general weakness, and blood in the stool. But the main thing is pain. It can occur in any part of the abdominal cavity and be different in intensity. It can be constant or jerking.
If one or more of these symptoms appear, seek medical attention immediately. Only a specialist will be able to correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe adequate treatment.
Diagnosis of intestinal diseases
Diagnosing a bowel disease is very difficult. To do this, the doctor must collect as much information as possible about the condition of the patient, as well as about the processes taking place in his intestines.
First of all, a detailed history is collected. The doctor interviews the patient about the symptoms that he is experiencing. About how the patient has stool, how often he feels the urge to defecate, and most importantly, what kind of pain the person has - its strength, location, duration.
Information about the presence of rumbling in the abdomen and flatulence, that is, the exhaust of gases, matters. The doctor draws attention to the appearance of the patient. If he has dry and thin skin, weak brittle hair, pallor on his face and general weakness, this, coupled with information obtained from the anamnesis, can help diagnose various diseases of the small intestine.
Using the method of palpation, the specialist determines the exact location of the occurrence of pain, and also determines the shape and size of the colon. Using such a seemingly simple method, for example, inflammation of the appendix is diagnosed, since other methods in this case are uninformative.
Widely used and instrumental diagnostics. After all, what is the intestines? This is an organ inside the abdominal cavity, which means it can be studied using ultrasound or a more informative MRI.
Intestine specialists
For any stomach problem, you should consult a doctor. But not only the gastroenterologist is able to accurately diagnose and prescribe treatment. To do this, he may need a consultation with an oncologist and surgeon. Especially if the treatment involves surgery.
Conclusion
The intestine is a finely structured organ in the human body. He is responsible for many processes in the body. Violation of the blood supply to the intestine can lead to various diseases, therefore, with the first symptoms of pathologies, you should immediately consult a doctor.