Antibiotic use can destroy other susceptible normal flora in the colon, allowing overgrowth and invasion of C. difficile is part of healthy, normal flora in the colon but can cause problems if it overgrows.

Clostridium difficile is another organism that can cause colitis in association with antibiotic use. These infectious organisms invade the colon, cause inflammation, and affect the normal function, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea. The most common causes are Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, and Salmonella. Infectious colitis most commonly occurs due to ingestion of contaminated food or water, introducing the infectious organism into the colon. Infectious colitis can occur from many different viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Some causes of ischemic colitis are atherosclerosis of arteries, low blood pressure, blood clots, and bowel obstruction. Decreased blood flow can cause inflammation or injury to the colon. Ischemic colitis is more common in the elderly and occurs when there is decreased blood flow to the colon. Ulcerative colitis is confined to the large intestine, whereas Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in the GI tract, from mouth to anus. The cause of inflammatory bowel disease is not known but is likely due to an abnormal response of the immune system.

Both cause inflammation and scarring within the digestive tract, disrupting the normal function. Inflammatory bowel disease includes either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Inflammatory) Diverticular disease is very common, especially in older adults. Diverticulitis can develop if these pockets get infected or inflamed, causing abdominal pain and change in bowel movements.

This usually occurs over time from chronic attrition of the aging process. This affects motility in the colon, making it difficult to pass stool.ĭiverticulosis is a disorder in which pockets develop in the colonic mucosa due to the weakness of the muscle layers in the colon wall. Hirschsprung disease is a disorder at birth that occurs when nerve cells are absent (Auerbach’s Plexus) in the muscles of the colon. During times of stress, segmentation contractions may be increased or decreased, resulting in constipation or diarrhea. Irritable bowel syndrome is thought to be due to psychological factors influencing the motility of the large intestine via the extrinsic autonomic nervous system. When dietary intake of these vitamins is low in an individual, the colon plays a significant role in minimizing vitamin disparity.ĭisorders of Large Intestinal Motility These vitamins are then absorbed into the blood. Vitamin K and B vitamins, including biotin, are produced by the colonic bacteria. The bacteria in the colon produce substantial amounts of vitamins by fermentation. The colon houses trillions of bacteria that protect our gut and produce vitamins. The colon also plays a role in providing required vitamins through an environment that is conducive for bacterial cultivation. Chloride ions are exchanged for bicarbonate ions across an electrochemical gradient. The electrochemical gradient created by the active absorption of sodium allows for this. Potassium is either absorbed or secreted depending on the concentration in the lumen. Sodium is actively absorbed in the colon by sodium channels. Water diffuses in response to an osmotic gradient established by the absorption of electrolytes. Mass movements are stronger and serve to move the chyme to the rectum quickly.Ībsorption of water occurs by osmosis. Haustral contraction is activated by the presence of chyme and serves to move food slowly to the next haustra, along with mixing the chyme to help with water absorption. Haustra are saccules in the colon that give it its segmented appearance. There are 2 types of motility present in the colon, haustral contraction and mass movement. These layers contribute to the motility of the large intestine. The muscular layer is made up of 2 layers of smooth muscle, the inner, circular layer, and the outer, longitudinal layer. The 4 layers of the large intestine from the lumen outward are the mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer, and serosa. The intestinal wall is made up of multiple layers.

Does the large intestine absorb water