Title: Small intestine - Wikipedia
Headings: Small intestine
Small intestine
Contents
Structure
Size
Parts
Blood supply
Microanatomy
Main article: Gastrointestinal wall
Gene and protein expression
Development
See also: Development of the digestive system
Function
Digestion
Absorption
Immunological
Clinical significance
Other animals
Society and culture
Additional images
See also
References
Bibliography
External links

Content: Small intestine - Wikipedia
Small intestine
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The small intestine or small bowel is an organ in the gastrointestinal tract where most of the absorption of nutrients and minerals from food takes place. It lies between the stomach and large intestine, and receives bile and pancreatic juice through the pancreatic duct to aid in digestion. The small intestine is about 20 feet (6 meters) long and folds many times to fit in the abdomen. Although it is longer than the large intestine, it is called the small intestine because it is smaller in width. Small intestine
Diagram showing the small intestine and surrounding structures
Details
Part of
Gastrointestinal tract
System
Digestive system
Artery
Superior mesenteric artery
Vein
Hepatic portal vein
Nerve
Celiac ganglia, vagus
Lymph
Intestinal lymph trunk
Identifiers
Latin
Intestinum tenue
MeSH
D007421
TA98
A05.6.01.001
TA2
2933
FMA
7200
Anatomical terminology
The small intestine has three distinct regions – the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The duodenum, the shortest, is where preparation for absorption through small finger-like protrusions called villi begins. The jejunum is specialized for the absorption through its lining by enterocytes: small nutrient particles which have been previously digested by enzymes in the duodenum. The main function of the ileum is to absorb vitamin B 12, bile salts, and whatever products of digestion were not absorbed by the jejunum. Contents
1
Structure
1.1
Size
1.2
Parts
1.3
Blood supply
1.4
Microanatomy
1.5
Gene and protein expression
1.6
Development
2
Function
2.1
Digestion
2.2
Absorption
2.3
Immunological
3
Clinical significance
4
Other animals
5
Society and culture
6
Additional images
7
See also
8
References
9
Bibliography
10
External links
Structure
Size
The length of the small intestine can vary greatly, from as short as 3.00 m (9.84 ft) to as long as 10.49 m (34.4 ft), also depending on the measuring technique used.