Small intestine
The small intestine is the portion of the digestive system most
responsible for absorption of nutrients from food into the
bloodstream. The pyloric sphincter governs the passage of partly
digested food from the stomach into the duodenum. This short first
portion of the small intestine is followed by the jejunum and the
ileum. The ileocecal valve of the ileum passes digested material
into the large intestine.
Review Date: 11/2/2008
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine,
Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of
Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department
of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San
Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
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