Question 5

How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?

Answer

Small intestine is a narrow tube, 6m long in the adults, is the longest part of the alimentary canal and comprises of three parts duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Duodenum is C- shaped, 25 cm long and extended from the stomach. It receives the hepatopancreatic duct formed by the combination of bile duct and pancreatic duct. Jejunum is the middle portion of the small intestine extends from duodenum and 2.4 cm long. Ileum forms the lower part of the small intestine and 3.6 m long and opens up into the large intestine.

The mucosa in the small intestinal part is raised into millions of tiny microscopic finger - like projection called villi. Villi contains blood vessels and the lacteals, they receives the product of digestion after the absorption. The free surface of the cells which covers the villi bear numerous microvilli. They both villi and microvilli increases the absorptive surface for the digestion of food.

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