The Cecum
Shaped like a pouch, the cecum (also known as caecum) is where the colon begins. It is connected to the small intestines through the ileocecal valve. The ileocecal valve is the inlet valve of the colon. It acts as a one way valve to allow food wastes to flow from the small intestines into the colon, but prevents waste in the colon from leaking into the small intestines. Located below the ileocecal valve is the appendix, which has a channel opening. For obvious reasons, all the organs at this 'traffic junction' for the flow of waste - caecum, ileocecal valve and appendix - must be cleared of waste on a daily basis. This can only be achieved by using the squatting position for waste evacuation. In the squatting position, the right thigh, pressing against the lower abdomen on the right side of the body, 'squeezes' the caecum to force wastes upwards into the ascending colon and away from the appendix, ileocecal valve and small intestines. As a result of waste being pushed away and out of the caecum, the appendix would never be clogged with waste. The ileocecal valve also stays securely closed to guard against any leakage of waste into the small intestines. Close This Cecum Page
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