Final answer:
The large intestine finalizes digestion, concentrating and storing food residue, absorbing water, and forming feces. Loose, foul, bulky, and frothy stools may indicate a disorder or infection in the digestive system. A diet high in fibers can help maintain regular bowel movements and gastrointestinal health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The large intestine is the organ of the digestive system responsible for the final stages of digestion. It further breaks down food residues, absorbs most residual water, electrolytes, and vitamins produced by enteric bacteria, and propels feces toward the rectum. Mucus produced in the colon eases the passage of feces. Feces are the solid waste that remains after food is digested, and their elimination from the body occurs through the anus.
A condition described by loose, foul, bulky, and frothy stools may indicate a digestive disorder where the food residue isn’t properly concentrated and stored prior to defecation, which could possibly involve infections by agents like C. jejuni, Salmonella, or E. histolytica. Diets rich in viscous and fermentable fibers can help achieve regularity by thickening fecal mass and feeding the microbiota of the large intestine, leading to healthier gastrointestinal function.