Title: Small Intestine Function: Duodenum, Jejunum And Ileum | Science Trends
Headings: Small Intestine Function: Duodenum, Jejunum And Ileum
Small Intestine Function: Duodenum, Jejunum And Ileum
The Three Primary Parts Of The Small Intestine
Layout Of The Small Intestine
Function Of The Small Intestine
“Gut health is the key to overall health.” — Kris Carr
The Digestive Process
Diseases Of The Small Intestine
“Which came first, the intestine or the tapeworm?” — William S. Burroughs
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Content: Function Of The Small Intestine
Food that is eaten first proceeds through the stomach where it is hit with various digestive enzymes and stomach acid, but after it leaves the stomach, it proceeds through the small intestine. Specifically, the partially digested food moves through the duodenum first. The duodenum is around 1/5 of the entire length of the small intestine, and after receiving the partially digested food from the stomach, it uses enzymes and bile from the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder to further break down the food. Cross section of the intestinal villi. Photo: By Nephron – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7823376
After proceeding through the small intestine, the partially digested food will move into the jejunum, and after the jejunum, it moves into the ileum. The function of both the jejunum and ileum is to pull the nutrients from the food and transfer them into the bloodstream of the body. The ileum and jejunum are smooth, they have many folds and wrinkles within them, and the purpose of these folds is to boost the surface area of the small intestine. More surface area means more chance to absorb nutrients, so the folds in the small intestine maximize the amount of nutrient absorption. “Gut health is the key to overall health.” —