This story is part of a series exploring human anatomy and physiology complexities. Each story in this collection showcases discoveries reshaping our understanding of the body's inner workings, ...

A compound made when gut bacteria break down dietary fiber may do more than briefly calm inflammation—it could leave a ...

Deep within the lining of the human intestine lies the source of the organ's ability to renew itself and recover from damage: intestinal stem cells (ISCs), lodged in pockets of tissue called crypts, ...

Microbiome research to date has been much like the parable of the blind men and the elephant. How much can be said about an elephant by examining just its tail? Researchers have studied what is most ...

The large intestine absorbs water and nutrients from food waste. Constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids commonly affect the large intestine. Eating more fiber and getting regular colorectal cancer ...

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Ileus is a temporary condition where your intestine can’t push food and waste out of your body. Your intestine is a long, winding tube inside your body that attaches your stomach to your anus. It has ...

Research from an international team finds that the human gut is a site of rapid change, with recent and important deviations from other mammals, including our closest living relative, the chimpanzee.

The gut microbiome is an important ecosystem of microbes that lives in each one of us, and its strength affects our overall health. However, the small intestine is an underappreciated part of the gut ...