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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Digestive and Urinary Systems

Small intestine

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

nounCommon term

In anatomy & physiology, small intestine means: The long, coiled tube between the stomach and the large intestine, made up of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Most digestion and absorption of nutrients happens here.

In Turkish: ince bağırsak

How it is used

Its inner surface has finger-like villi and microvilli that greatly increase the area for absorption. Doctors often say small bowel instead of small intestine, for example in small bowel obstruction.

Example sentences

  1. The small intestine is much longer than the large intestine, but narrower.

  2. Villi in the small intestine absorb glucose, amino acids and fats.

Common collocations

  • small bowel
  • lining of the small intestine
  • villi
  • duodenum
  • large intestineThe final part of the digestive tract, from the cecum to the rectum and anus. It absorbs water and salts from what remains of digested food, and it forms and stores feces.
  • stomachThe J-shaped muscular bag between the esophagus and the small intestine. It stores food, mixes it with acid and enzymes, and passes it on slowly to the duodenum.
  • absorptionThe process by which digested nutrients, water and other substances pass from the gut into the blood or lymph, mostly through the wall of the small intestine.
  • digestionThe process of breaking food down into small molecules that the body can absorb. It is partly mechanical (chewing, churning) and partly chemical, using enzymes.
  • pancreasA gland behind the stomach with two jobs: it makes digestive enzymes that flow into the duodenum, and its islet cells release hormones such as insulin and glucagon into the blood.

More terms: Digestive and Urinary Systems

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