What is the difference between the small intestine and the large intestine?
The intestines of human beings take part in the process of digestion. The alimentary tract is divided into small intestines and large intestines. These parts play different roles in the human body.
The core difference between the small intestine and large intestine is that the small intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients while the large intestine absorbs water and salt.
What is a Small Intestine?
The small intestine is also known as small bowel and tends to measure about 20 feet long in the human body. It is responsible for absorbing nutrients during the digestion process.
The intestine is found between the large intestine and the stomach. It is normally coiled in the abdomen to increase the surface area for absorption of nutrients.
The finger-like projections on the inner surface of the small intestines also help to increase the surface area for nutrients absorption.
The small intestine is further divided into duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Duodenum is the smallest part and it starts immediately after the stomach. It has ducts that allow digestive secretions.
The jejunum is the largest and it occurs in the middle of the small intestine. It is responsible for the absorption of nutrients. The ileum is slightly large and it appears at the end of the small intestine. Help in the absorption of the remaining nutrients.
What is a Large Intestine?
The large intestine is also known as colon or large bowel. It tends to measure about 1.5 m long in the human body. It is part of the digestive system and it is responsible for the absorption of salt and water.
It is divided into the rectum, colon, caecum, and anal canal. It has a smooth muscle for relaxation and contraction. The main aim is to ensure the food reaches the anus.
The colon contains bacteria responsible for absorbing vitamins such as vitamin B2, vitamin B1, vitamin K, vitamin B12.
The taeniae Coli has longitudinal muscles that start from the appendix base and extend up to the rectum. Hastura enhances the contraction of the taeniae coli.
Comparison Chart: Small Intestine Vs Large Intestine
| Basic Terms | Small Intestine | Large Intestine |
| Meaning | It is part of the digestive system that is located between the stomach and large intestine | It is part of the digestive system that is located between the small intestine and anus. |
| Alternative Name | Small bowel | Colon or large bowel |
| Length | Measures about 20 feet long | Measures about 1.5 m long |
| Diameter | Narrow | Wider |
| Parts | Jejunum, ileum, and duodenum | Rectum, colon, caecum and anal canal |
| Circular folds | Tend to be present in the form of palicae circulares | Absent |
| Presence of Villi | Present | Absent |
| Peyers Patches | Present | Absent |
| Muscle bands | Have continuous bands of muscles | Has reduced types of muscle bands |
| Motility | Show movement in the abdomen | Tend to be immobile |
| Hastura | Absent | Present |
| Epiploic appendages | Absent | Present |
| Role indigestion | Absorption of nutrients | Absorption of salt and water |
| Hormones Secreted | A lot of hormones are secreted | No hormone is secreted |
Core Differences between Large and Small Intestines
- The small intestines run between the stomach and large intestines while large intestines run between small intestines and anal canal
- The small intestine is narrower in diameter while the large intestine is wider in diameter
- The small intestine is longer while the large intestine is shorter
- The small intestine is divided into duodenum, ileum, and jejunum while the large intestine is divided into the rectum, caecum, colon, and anal canal
- The small intestine exhibit movement in the abdomen cavity while the large intestine is fixed in one position
- The small intestine is responsible for absorption of nutrients while the large intestine is responsible for absorption of salt and water
- The small intestine has longitudinal muscles arranged in circular folds while the large intestine has longitudinal muscles arranged in three bands.
- The small intestine has microvilli while large intestine has no villi
- The small intestine is involved in digestion while the large intestine is not involved
- The small intestine experience a lot of hormone secretion while large intestine does not
- The large intestine has Epiploic appendages while the small intestine does not.
- The large intestine has hastura while small intestine does not have
- The small intestine has Peyers Patches while the large intestine does not.
- The small intestine is highly folded to increase surface area for nutrients absorption unlike large intestine
- The small intestine is also known as small bowel while the large intestine is also known as colon or large bowel
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Comparison Video: Small Bowel vs Large Bowel
Summary
The large intestine is used in the absorption of salt and water. It also contains bacteria for enhancing the absorption of vitamins. Small intestines have microvilli for increasing the surface area for nutrients absorption.