Difference between small intestine and large intestine
Main difference
Both the small intestine and the large intestine are part of the digestive tract or the digestive tract of the human body. They mainly provide functions such as digestion and absorption of food and other nutrients. Generally, the digestive tract consists of these parts: mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and the anus, which is the external opening of the rectum. The small intestine is a longer tube, about 4.5 to 7 m long. It is the longest part of the digestive tract, although it is called the small intestine because of its width that is around 3.5 to 4 cm. The small intestine is the next stop for food that passes through the stomach, while the large intestine is a smaller tube, about 1.5 m long. The name it has is due to its width of 4-6 cm. The large intestine is the last stop of the digestive tract; Stool is eliminated through the anal canal, which is the part of the large intestine.
Small intestine versus large intestine
The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive tract, measuring around 15 to 7 meters, while the large intestine is around 1.5 to 2 meters. The small intestine has a small diameter compared to the large intestine which has a spherical diameter of 4-6 cm. The main function of the small intestine is to absorb nutritional vitamins from food, while the large intestine absorbs water, salts, and feces. The small intestine has microscopic finger-like projections known as villi, whereas the large intestine has no villi. The small intestine is divided into the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, while the large intestine is divided into the cecum, colon, rectum, and anus. The haustrations are present in the large intestine, however, they are absent in the small intestine.
Base | Small intestine | Large intestine |
Length and width | The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive tract, with a length of about 4.5 to 7 m and a width of about 3.5 to 4.5 cm. | The large intestine is the last part of the digestive tract, which is about 1.5 m long and about 4 to 6 cm wide. |
Principal function | 90% of all digestion and absorption of food occurs in the small intestine. | The main functions that the large intestine must perform are the absorption of water from reamed indigestible food and the production of vitamin B and vitamin K from the bacteria that live there. |
Parties | The small intestine is mainly made up of three parts; duodenum, jejunum and ileum. | The large intestine is mainly made up of these parts: cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. |
Circular folds and villi | There are villi and circular folds in the small intestine. | They are absent in the large intestine. |
What is the small intestine?
The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive tract, which is made up of several other tubes such as the esophagus, pharynx, and large intestine. The coined name ‘small’ for this tube is due to its width, which is around 3.5 to 4.5 cm. This tube has a length of about 4.5 to 7 m, the food that passes through the stomach passes through this intestine for the purpose of complete digestion. If it is about the digestion and absorption of food, which is the main function that both the large and small intestines are associated with, then the small intestine has more to do, since 90% of all digestion and absorption of food happens here. The remaining 10% takes place in the large intestine and stomach. Food particles after passing through the small intestine enter the large intestine. Since the small intestine winds around the abdomen, it has two types of internal growth; circular folds and villi, which slow down the movement of food. Therefore, food stays longer in the small intestine compared to the large intestine. The small intestine is mainly made up of three parts; duodenum, jejunum and ileum.
The large intestine is the last part of the digestive tract of the human body, beginning in the mouth and ending through the canal. The most basic function associated with the large intestine is the digestion and absorption of food, as it is associated with the small intestine, but the main functions it must perform is the absorption of water from reamed indigestible food and the production of vitamin B and vitamin. K from the bacteria that live there. The large intestine is the last stop, which occurs after the food passes through the small intestine. The name “large” for this intestine is due to its size; it has a diameter of about 4 to 6 cm. On the other hand, it is quite shorter compared to the small intestine; It measures about 1.5 m. Unlike the small intestine, there are no villi or circular folds. The large intestine is mainly made up of these parts: cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. The rectum is the last stop before waste material or feces is removed from the human body through the anal canal.
Small intestine versus large intestine
- The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive tract, with a length of about 4.5 to 7 m and a width of about 3.5 to 4.5 cm. On the other hand, the large intestine is the last part of the digestive tract, which has a length of around 1.5 m and a width of around 4 to 6 cm.
- 90% of the total digestion and absorption of food occurs in the small intestine, while the main functions that the large intestine must perform are the absorption of water from reamed indigestible food and the production of vitamin B and vitamin K a start from the bacteria that live there. .
- The small intestine is mainly made up of three parts; duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, while the large intestine is mainly made up of these parts: cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal.
- Villi and circular folds are present in the small intestine while they are absent in the large intestine.