Your small intestine and digestion

The small intestine is a long tube that is approximately 18 feet long (6 meters). The small intestine is called small because the diameter or the width of the tube is much less than the large intestine. The parts of the small intestine include the duodenum, jejunum and the ileum. The duodenum is a segment of intestine between the stomach and the jejunum that is very active in digestion where many different enzymes mix from the stomach, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.

The small intestine is the location in the body where the majority of the nutrients from ingested food are absorbed. Whereas the stomach is responsible for the churning and mechanical breakdown of food, the small intestine is very important for absorption. Digested food passes through the wall of the intestine into the blood vessels which then distribute the nutrition first to the liver and then through the rest of the body.

Jejunum

The jejunum is the second section of the small intestine; it is around 3 to 6 feet (average 1.5 meters) in length and lies between the duodenum and the ileum. There is no distinct demarcation between the jejunum to the ileum; however, the change from the duodenum to the jejunum is clearly marked because of the ligament of Treitz.

The mucous membrane on the inner surface of the jejunum is covered with hair-like projections termed villi. These are instrumental in the absorption of nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, amino acid, sugar, fatty acid particles, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and water. It is interesting to note that the villi in the jejunum are longer than those in the duodenum and the ileum. The surface are of the jejunum is also increased due to large circular folds called plicae circulares present in the submucosa.

Ileum

The ileum is the final part of the small intestine. It opens into the large intestine via the ileocecal valve. The ileum is preceded by the jejunum. This section of the small intestine is approximately 6 to 12 feet (3.5 meters) long.

The ileum absorbs mainly vitamin B12, other water soluble vitamins, bile salts, and nutrients that were not absorbed in the jejunum. More specifically, the absorption of the vitamins takes place at the terminal ileum – the last part of the ileum. Removal of this portion of the ileum will necessitate supplementary vitamin B12 doses for rest of the life. The surface area of the ileum is very large to facilitate the adsorption and absorption process. The surface consists of many tiny finger-like segments that protrude outwards. These are termed villi and are covered with epithelial cells.

Capillaries in the villi transport amino acids to the liver via the hepatic portal vein. The products of fat digestion, namely fatty acid and glycerol are absorbed by lacteals. These are small lymph vessels. The digested food is pushed along the ileum by means of peristaltic muscle contractions. The undigested food and water move into the colon.

There is no marked point at which the jejunum ends and the ileum begins; however there are certain differences between the two regions of the intestinal tract. There is more fat within the transparent mesenteric membrane at the ileum as compared to the jejunum. Also, the ileum is of a paler shade and has a smaller bore.

Anatomical Structure: 
Small Intestine
Speciality Classification: 
Surgical
Medical Entity Classification: 
MedicalCode
MeSH Identifier: 
A03.556.124.684
National Library of Medicine: 
MeSH
Medical Audience: 
Patient
  • Colon

    The colon has bacteria which helps break food down; it is shorter than the small intestine but has a larger diameter.

  • Pancreas

    The pancreas is a gland that is a part of the digestive system as well as a hormone system that regulates sugar.

  • Gallbladder

    The concentrated bile stored in the gallbladder is released when fatty foods enter the small intestine.

  • Stomach

    The stomach is a muscular sac that is important for absoring food and preparing food for further digestion

  • Liver

    The liver produces bile and is the first stop for the majority of the nutrients that are absorbed during digestion.

  • Omentum

    The omentum is another word for the fatty layer that surrounds your internal organs.

  • Intestine

    The small intestine is the location in the body where the majority of the nutrients from ingested food are absorbed.

  • Duodenum

    The duodenum plays an important role in regulating the emptying of stomach contents into the rest of the small intestine.