Human Intestinal Tract Length

[Guest guest]

I'm inclined to agree with many arguments

suggesting humans are designed to be herbivoires rather than

carnivoires. But one argument I've read in multiple sources

bothers me because of its apparent inaccuracy. I just saw

it again in an article on the net that I read

today.<br><br>The claim is in reference to the length of the

intestinal tract in relation to the length of the human

body. What I read today stated that the human

intestinal tract is approximately 12 times the length of the

human body. The average human is probably around 5 3/4

feet tall. Multiply that by 12 and you get 69

(sweet).<br><br>Now, my Reader's Digest book on the Human Body says

the intestinal tract is much smaller. I believe they

attribute 6 feet to the colon (large intestine) and maybe

20 to 25 feet max to the small intestine. I'll add

an extra foot for getting from mouth to esophogous

to stomach. That puts you at about 30 feet or only 6

or 6.5 times the length of the human body. There

seems to be a big discrepancy here.<br><br>Does anyone

know where some vegetarians come up with 60 foot

intestinal tracts. This has bothered me for a long time (I

deplore the use of false information and think it

detracts from the merit of health claims). If anyone has

an explanation, I'd love to hear it.

[Guest guest]

Wait Mallon, I'll swallow a string and let you

know in the morning. :-)<br><br>I have a copy of Grays

Anatomy around here somewhere. If I can find it I'll look

it up and see what they say.<br><br>Doug

[Guest guest]

& gt; The claim is in reference to the length of

the intestinal tract in relation to the length of the

human body. What I read today stated that the human

intestinal tract is approximately 12 times the length of the

human body. <br><br>The reference is not comparing the

length of the GI tract to the Whole human body but the

length of the GI tract to the length of the body from

the top of the skull to the base of the spine.