After every meal, the intestines perform an action called peristalsis—moving food through their hollow interiors with coordinated contractions and relaxations of the smooth muscle. For more than a ...

Intestinal lymphoma is a form of cancer that begins in the lymph tissue within the intestines. It can cause nausea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and bloody stools. Surgery may be required. The ...

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare condition that occurs when you have symptoms of intestinal obstruction without anything physically blocking the intestines. It can be chronic or develop ...

When it comes to intestines, it sure seems like two are better than one. I asked my friend Franck Carbonero why that is. He’s a microbiologist at Washington State University. He studies the bacteria ...

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, ...