Title: The Small Intestine
Headings: Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology
The Small Intestine

Content: The Small Intestine
Anatomy and Physiology
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Anatomy & Physiology
The Small Intestine
The Small Intestine
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The Small Intestine
The small intestine (small in diameter compared to the large intestine) is divided into three sections, as shown in Figure : The duodenum, about 25 cm (10 inches) long, receives chyme from the stomach through the pyloric sphincter. Ducts that empty into the duodenum deliver pancreatic juice and bile from the pancreas and liver, respectively. The jejunum, about 2.5 m (8 feet) long, is the middle section of the small intestine. The ileum, about 3.6 m (12 feet) long, is the last section of the small intestine. It ends with the ileocecal valve (sphincter), which regulates the movement of chyme into the large intestine and prevents backward movement of material from the large intestine. The functions of the small intestine include the following: Mechanical digestion. Segmentation mixes the chyme with enzymes from the small intestine and pancreas.