Title: What Does the Small Intestine Do?
Headings: What Does the Small Intestine Do?
What Does the Small Intestine Do?
Small Intestine Anatomy
Small Intestine Physiology
About The Author
Sarah Lewis, PharmD

Content: The chyme is only partially digested at this point. The liver, gallbladder and pancreas empty bile, digestive enzymes, and bicarbonate into the duodenum to further digest the chyme. Bile helps digest fats and fat-soluble vitamins, bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid, and digestive enzymes further digest fats and carbohydrates. Jejunum: The jejunum takes care of 90% of nutrient absorption, mostly in the first half of this section. This includes proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Ileum: The ileum absorbs water and nutrients that weren’t absorbed in the jejunum. It also absorbs vitamin B12 and reabsorbs bile salts. Then, it passes the leftovers into the large intestine.