Large intestine

The large intestine is the final part of the lower gastrointestinal tract and includes the caecum, appendix, colon, rectum and anal canal. The large intestine's function is to finish digestion of food, extracting water, salt and nutrients from solid waste and excreting indigestible matter from the body via the anus.

Latest Research and Reviews

Reviews | 03 March 2022

Building gut from scratch — progress and update of intestinal tissue engineering

Intestinal tissue engineering offers a potential therapeutic option for short bowel syndrome. This Review examines the progress in intestinal tissue engineering, discusses the components required for engineered intestinal grafts, preclinical progress and efforts towards clinical translation, including challenges to overcome.
- Lucinda Tullie
- , Brendan C. Jones
- & Vivian S. W. Li
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 1-15
Research
24 February 2022 | Open Access

Preservation of the inferior mesenteric artery in laparoscopic nerve-sparing colorectal surgery for endometriosis
- Marco Scioscia
- , Cristiano G. S. Huscher
- & Giovanni Pontrelli
Scientific Reports 12, 3146
Research
11 January 2022 | Open Access

Transglutaminase 3 crosslinks the secreted gel-forming mucus component Mucin-2 and stabilizes the colonic mucus layer

The colonic mucus layer is an organized system providing a physical barrier against pathogens and simultaneously harbouring the commensal flora. Here the authors report that transglutaminase 3 activity contributes to homeostasis of the colonic mucus layer and the lack of this enzymatic activity leads to increased susceptibility against DSS-induced colitis in mice.
- Jack D. A. Sharpen
- , Brendan Dolan
- & Christian V. Recktenwald
Nature Communications 13, 45
Research
25 August 2021 | Open Access

Automated computational analysis reveals structural changes in the enteric nervous system of nNOS deficient mice
- Ben R. Cairns
- , Benjamin Jevans
- & Conor J. McCann
Scientific Reports 11, 17189
Research
13 August 2021 | Open Access

Autonomous navigation of a magnetic colonoscope using force sensing and a heuristic search algorithm
- Hao-En Huang
- , Sheng-Yang Yen
- & Chih-Wen Liu
Scientific Reports 11, 16491
Reviews | 09 August 2021

Understanding the physiology of human defaecation and disorders of continence and evacuation

Defaecation is a coordinated process that requires a morphologically intact gastrointestinal tract and the integration of multiple physiological systems (neuromuscular, hormonal and cognitive). This Review describes the physiology of human defaecation and continence, providing insights into the pathophysiology of defaecation and evacuation disorders.
- Paul T. Heitmann
- , Paul F. Vollebregt
- & S. Mark Scott
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 18, 751-769