Intestinal Anatomy and Function
The small intestine absorbs nutrients and some water from digested food. The vast majority of food absorption happens in the small intestine. The small intestine is composed of three sections: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Humans have anywhere from 10-16 feet of small intestine. The small intestine is quite adaptive; in fact, even with removal of up to 40% of it, appropriate digestion is still possible.
From the small intestine, enteric contents then pass into the large intestine (colon) for resorption of water. Constipation is a dysfunction of the large bowel. Constipation has numerous causes. Most commonly, constipation results from a low-fiber diet coupled with inadequate water intake. Removal of small intestine does not contribute to the development or worsening of constipation.