The wide large intestine
Water out, stool formed.
What is left?
Most nutrients have been absorbed. Some food could not be digested.
Where does this undigested food go next?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Undigested food moves into the large intestine, about 1.5 metres long and wider than the small intestine, which absorbs water and some salts to form semi-solid waste called stool, stored in the rectum.
What is left?
Most nutrients have been absorbed. Some food could not be digested.
Where does this undigested food go next?
- Into the large intestine
- Back into the stomach
- Into the lungs
Slide along
Slide the food along the large intestine to the rectum. Watch the colour and the water drops.
Thicker as it goes
The large intestine took water and some salts out of the waste. The waste became semi-solid and was stored in the rectum.
Undigested food moves into the large intestine, about 1.5 metres long and wider than the small intestine. It absorbs water and some salts to form semi-solid waste called stool, which is stored in the rectum.
Notes
Undigested food moves into the large intestine, about 1.5 metres long and wider than the small intestine. It absorbs water and some salts to form semi-solid waste called stool, which is stored in the rectum.
Check yourself
About how long is the large intestine?
Answer: 1.5 m
The large intestine is about 1.5 metres long.
The large intestine is shorter than the small intestine. Why is it called large?
What does the large intestine absorb from the undigested food?
Where is the stool stored?
- It is longer. It is about 1.5 m long, shorter than the small intestine. It is called large because it is wider.
- It is heavier. The name comes from its width, not from its weight.
- It is wider — correct. Yes!
- Water and some salts — correct. Yes!
- Proteins only. Most nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. The large intestine absorbs water and some salts.
- Fat only. The large intestine absorbs water and some salts from the undigested food.
- In the stomach. The stomach churns food. The stool is stored in the rectum.
- In the rectum — correct. Yes!
- In the food pipe. The food pipe carries food to the stomach. The stool is stored in the rectum.