Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases are disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract covers all aspects of digestion, beginning at the mouth, encompassing the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and ending at the anus. It is approximately 30ft in length from start to finish and a lot can go awry in the process of digestion. This article will focus on disorders of the small intestine and especially the large intestine (also known as the colon, or bowel). Internationally, inflammatory bowel diseases are assumed to be more prevalent in developed countries, with peop...