Large Intestine overview

Anatomy

The large intestine belongs to thedigestive tract. It consists of the cecum, appendix, colon, rectum, and anal canal. It starts in the right iliac region of the pelvis, just at or below the right waist, where it is joined to the bottom end of the small intestine. The ileocaecal valve prevents the travelling of the colon content and it´s bacteria back into the ileum. From here the colon continues up the abdomen, then across the width of the abdominal cavity, and then it turns down, continuing to its endpoint at the anus.

graphic: wikipedia/Mariana Ruiz Villarreal

graphic source: wikipedia

Brain

Relay:

• Brain Stem ( + / – ) lateral left, for mucosa in caecum, colon, sigma and rectum and
• Midbrain (+/-) lateral left, for smooth muscle and Anal Internal Sphincter
  
• Cerebellum (+/-) for Peritoneum/greater omentum
  
• Cerebral Medulla (-/+) “lumbar & pelvic” region for lymphatic tissue and striated muscle/external sphincter
  
• Cerebral Cortex (-/+) medio-lateral insular region left hemisphere “8 o’clock”-relay, for anal epithelium
  
  and motoric & post-sensory cortex for anal sensitivity and innervation of the external sphincter