Working All the Right Angles
From the ileocecal valve reflex, up the ascending colon reflex, across the transverse colon reflex, and all the secondary reflexes, this walk is reflecting half of the large intestine. At the same time, the small intestine in the body is intertwined with its larger counterpart, allowing for the overlapping of reflexes. Whew, what a mouthful, or should we say bellyful!
This first walk-through has created a different shape than those you have previously drawn. Look at the foot and imagine a line from the ileocecal reflex up and across the transverse colon reflex. This line would look like a right angle. Keep this image in mind as you move forward in this complex area.
Fact
While the large intestine is only 5 feet long, the small intestine is about 23 feet. However, the diameter of the small intestine is only about as round as a half dollar, while the large intestine is roughly the size of a small soup can. The small intestine appears outwardly smooth and the large intestine is rather rough.
The Second and Third Angles
Bring the left thumb back to the ileocecal valve reflex; rotate on the point and hold. Walk the thumb in two tiny steps away from the ileocecal reflex, toward the inside edge of the foot, and then turn and thumb walk up to the waistline. Just below the waistline guide, turn the thumb, moving toward the inside edge of the foot. Thumb walk across, making a line to the medial edge. This is now the second right angle, stacked under the first.
Bring the thumb back to the ileocecal valve point to begin a new right angle. Walk the thumb in from the valve reflex to just past where the last segment began. Thumb walk up toward the waistline again, stopping right below the line that was created by the last walk-through. Turn and work toward the center of the foot again. A third right angle has been created, tucked just inside the previous one.
Right Angle Finale
What is churned food?
The food we eat sits in our stomach anywhere from one to five hours, depending upon an individual's metabolism. During that time the solid food is churned into a liquid called chyme. When the stomach empties into the duodenum, it is emptying liquid, not solid, material, for further digestion.
Depending upon the size of the foot, the next right angle may be the last. Starting at the ileocecal valve reflex, thumb walk across the other lines to begin a new section. Turn and thumb walk up, turning again just below the last line across. Thumb walk to the inside edge of the foot, completing the final right angle. Notice that each time the pattern becomes smaller, as the area involved is less.
These stacked right angles have worked the areas of the large and small intestines as reflected on the right foot. It is the small intestine that plays the major role in digesting the churned food from the stomach and absorbing nutrients and water. The large intestine assumes the role of absorbing the remainder of the fluids and salts, as well as putting potassium into the body.
