Small Intestine Function and Large Intestine Recovery

Question 1

What occurs in the large intestine?

Answer 1

Some fermentative digestion of dietary fiber/residues (Cell debris, mucus) which yields VFAs which stimulates Na absorption and osmotic water recovery

Question 2

How does cholera cause diarrhea?

Answer 2

Overstimulates Crypts of Lieberkuhn which moves a lot of water into large intestine, too much for the large intestine to take up

Question 3

What is the cause of osmotic/malabsorptive diarrhea?

Answer 3

When pancreatic ducts are blocked so the small intestine can’t absorb as much as normal, then a larger amount of material is passed through to the large intestine which becomes overloaded