Intestine: Definition, Function, and Anatomy

Meaning 1：internal digestive organ (intestine)

intestine 🔊

/ɪnˈtes.tɪn/

The long, tube-shaped part inside your belly that breaks down food after you eat it.

Intestine anatomy diagram showing the long, coiled digestive organ within the human torso.

internal digestive organ 🔊

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/ɪnˈtɜːrnəl dɪˈdʒestɪv ˈɔːrɡən/

A long, coiled, tube-like part of the digestive system located in the abdomen, responsible for digesting food and absorbing nutrients.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'intestinus' meaning 'internal, inward'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'IN-TESTINE' like the long, winding tube that is TESTING and processing food INSIDE you.

📖 Example

The doctor explained that eating more fiber is good for your intestine because it helps everything move smoothly. 🔊 The doctor explained that eating more fiber is good for your internal digestive organ because it helps everything move smoothly.

🔗 Collocations

large intestine – The wider, shorter part of the intestine that absorbs water and forms feces.

small intestine – The long, narrow part of the intestine where most digestion and nutrient absorption occurs.

intestinal tract – The entire passageway from the stomach to the anus, including the intestines.

🔄 Synonyms

gut (n.) – A more informal term for the intestine or digestive tract.

bowel (n.) – Often used in the plural (bowels) to refer to the intestine, especially the lower part.

viscera (n.) – The internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen, including the intestines.

🚫 Antonyms

stomach (n.) – An earlier, separate organ in the digestive system where food is initially broken down.

esophagus (n.) – The muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach, preceding the intestine in the digestive tract.

🌱 Derivatives

intestinal (adj.) – Relating to or occurring in the intestine.

intestinally (adv.) – In a manner related to the intestine.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'intestinus' (internal), reflecting its position inside the body. The term highlights the anatomical focus on internal organs in early medical Latin.