• Question: why do your intestines need to be so long

    Asked by Hansypansy to Andy, Duane, Giovanna, Katie, Theresia on 15 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Duane Mellor

      Duane Mellor answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      So it can have a large enough surface area to absorb nutrients efficiently. Otherwise nutrients would be lost and may result in diarrhoea

    • Photo: Giovanna Bermano

      Giovanna Bermano answered on 16 Nov 2014:

      For sure it is a long organ…… the small intestine can be 3 m long and the large one about 1.5 m. In the small intestine the food is continuously mixed and stirred to allow to break it down and maximum absorption of all the nutrients we require. in the large intestine water is absorbed and faeces are formed….if the intestine was shorter we will not be able to absorb all the goodies we require in an efficient way!!!

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