Secretions of the large intestine

Large Intestine

- the part of the alimentary canal consisting of
the caecum, colon, and rectum
- it extracts moisture from food residues, which
are later excreted as feces

Mucus Secretion

- has many crypts of Lieberkühn
- no villi
- epithelial cells contain almost no enzymes but instead, consist mainly of mucous cells that
secrete only mucus.

Mucus

- great preponderance of secretion in the large intestine
- contains moderate amounts of bicarbonate ions secreted by a few non–mucus secreting
epithelial cells

* The rate of secretion of mucus is regulated principally by direct, tactile stimulation of
the epithelial cells

Mucosa of Large Intestine

* Stimulation of the pelvic nerves from the spinal cord, which carry parasympathetic
innervation to the distal one half to two thirds of the large intestine, also can cause
marked increase in mucus secretion