Conditions of the small intestine and of the colon

An organ of the digestive system, the small intestine is situated between the stomach and the colon and carries out most of the digestion and nutrient absorption process. The small intestine has three regions: The duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum.

Different pathologies can affect the small intestine, including:

• Irritable bowel syndrome, which is characterized by a hyper sensibility of the intestinal wall and an irregularity of muscular contractions. This condition manifests between episodes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.

• Chronic inflammatory illnesses, such as Crohn’s disease, which causes intense pain and diarrhea.

• Gastroduodenal ulcer, or, a formation of a deep wound within the duodenal wall.

• Intestinal occlusion, corresponding to a halt of the digestive transit, leading to vomiting and strong pain.

Equally called the large intestine, the colon is located between the small intestine (or bowel) and the rectum. The principal conditions affecting this region of the digestive tract are:

• Irritable bowel syndrome or functional colonopathy, causing abdominal troubles like diarrhea or constipation.

• Colic diverticulitis, corresponding to the appearance of diverticula, which are small sacs that develop on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, and can become inflamed.

• Crohn’s disease

• Ulcerative colitis

• Colon cancer, which can be caused by genetics or the presence of polyps

Fiche Conditions of the small intestine and of the colon

• Author : Florian Reinaud, MD
• Date : May 05, 2018