intestine

/ɪnˈtɛstən/

/ɪnˈtɛstɪn/

Other forms: intestines

When you eat food, it first passes into your stomach, and then into your intestine. Fun fact: your large intestine is about five feet long. Makes you wonder why they don't call it your "long intestine" instead.

The human intestine is split into two sections: the small intestine and the large intestine. Your intestine's job is to continue breaking down the food you've eaten and absorb nutrients into your bloodstream. Intestine comes from the Latin word intestinum, "gut" or "bowels," which is the neuter form of the adjective intestinus, "inward" or "internal."

Definitions of intestine

1. noun

   the part of the alimentary canal between the stomach and the anus
   synonyms: bowel, gut

   types:

   small intestine

   the longest part of the alimentary canal; where digestion is completed

   large intestine

   beginning with the cecum and ending with the rectum; includes the cecum and the colon and the rectum; extracts moisture from food residues which are later excreted as feces

   duodenum

   the part of the small intestine between the stomach and the jejunum

   jejunum

   the part of the small intestine between the duodenum and the ileum

   ileum

   the part of the small intestine between the jejunum and the cecum

   colon

   the part of the large intestine between the cecum and the rectum; it extracts moisture from food residues before they are excreted

   type of:

   internal organ, viscus

   a main organ that is situated inside the body