Learning anatomy/Small bowel

Stomach - Large bowel Template:Toc

Anatomy

The small bowel or small intestine connects the stomach to the large intestine. The parts of the small intestine are the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Function

The small intestine absorbs most of the nutrients from the chyme. The pyloric sphincter lets only a tiny bit of chyme go into the small intestine at a time. The small finger-like projections are called villi. Villi help in the absorption. The jejunum absorbs sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids. The ileum absorbs bile acids, fluid, and vitamin B12.