What is the main job of the large intestine?

• A. To absorb nutrients
• B. To produce gastric juice
• C. To remove liquids from food wastes
• D. To break down fats

Answer: (C)

The large intestine’s primary role is reabsorbing water and electrolytes from indigestible material to form solid waste. After most nutrients have been absorbed earlier in the digestive tract, the remaining material moves into the large intestine where water is taken back into the body, concentrating the waste into feces. That’s why the statement about removing liquids from food wastes best describes its main function.

Other parts of digestion do different jobs: the small intestine handles most nutrient absorption; the stomach produces gastric juice; fats are mainly broken down in the small intestine with bile and enzymes. The large intestine does some bacterial fermentation, but its main task is water reabsorption and waste formation.