Explain the small intestine, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain the Small Intestine?

The small intestine is made up of three sections, the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. Bile from the liver and pancreatic enzymes are released into the first section of the small intestine, the duodenum, where most of the overall digestion occurs although it is short - only about 25 cm. Their arrival triggers the production of mucus and the release of digestive enzymes from the glands at the base of projections called villi found in the mucus lining of the intestine. Villi function to expand the exposed surface area of the cell membranes in order to increase the rate of absorption of processed nutrients passing through the digestive tract. Each finger-like villus membrane surface is itself covered with millions of microvilli - even tinier finger-like projections of cell membrane, giving the small intestine a huge surface area for transport of nutrients. Enzymes secreted by the intestinal wall include lipases to split fats into glycerol and fatty acids; peptidases that break proteins down into amino acids; and maltase, lactase, and sucrase, that convert disaccharides into monosaccharides. The products of digestion are delivered to the circulatory system by a process called absorption. Absorption takes place through the villi into capillaries and lymph vessels called lacteals that line the intestine. Fatty acids formed in the interior space or lumen of the intestine diffuse into the mucosa, where triglycerides are synthesized and combined with cholesterol and phospholipids, then coated with protein to form water-soluble chylomicrons, which are carried into the lacteals and eventually into the blood stream near the heart through the large lymph duct called the thoracic duct. The products of digestion of sugars and proteins are carried by the capillaries to the liver, where the glucose is converted to glycogen for storage, and the rest of the nutrients are filtered for detoxification and then distributed by the blood stream to the rest of the body.


Related Discussions:- Explain the small intestine

Define causes of iron deficiency anaemia, Define Causes of iron Deficiency ...

Define Causes of iron Deficiency Anaemia? Anaemia is a condition in which the blood cannot carry enough oxygen. This may be because there are fewer red blood cells than normal,

Why isnt the cooking of vitamin c-containing foods, Why isn't the cooking o...

Why isn't the cooking of vitamin C-containing foods appropriate for vitamin C supply? To obtain vitamin C, for example, from an orange dessert, the vitamin-containing food cann

Admission information - nursing, Admission Information   The physician ...

Admission Information   The physician and nurses are the primary source of facts concerning the purpose of therapeutic plan and expected outcome of hospitalization. The informa

Analyze the chromosomes of her daughters or of her sons, Is it more indicat...

Is it more indicated for a geneticist desiring to map the X chromosome of the mother of a given family (the researcher does not have access to her DNA, only access to the genetic m

What are the features of retrograde peri-implantitis, The Features of Retro...

The Features of Retrograde Peri-Implantitis include: - Periapical Bone loss without gingival inflammation. - Microflora consisting mainly of streptococci and nonmotile organ

What is the procedure of examining foot, Procedure of Examining Foot Le...

Procedure of Examining Foot Let us learn the steps of examining the foot and identify foot at risk. Steps to follow: 1. Make the patient comfortable. 2. Provide priv

Poverty and malnutrition, Poverty and Malnutrition Poverty and malnutr...

Poverty and Malnutrition Poverty and malnutrition are closely related. As noted before, many elementary aspects of being poor like hunger, inadequate health care, unhygienic l

Which are the heart chambers, Q. Which are the heart chambers respectively ...

Q. Which are the heart chambers respectively where the entrance and the exit of blood occur? The heart chambers through which blood enters the heart are the atria there are the

Scope of dental implantology, From the above reading you must have understo...

From the above reading you must have understood how Dental implants have come into existence. Dental Implants are the future in dentistry and are becoming more and more widely used

Zoology, explain in detail various types of epithelial tissue

explain in detail various types of epithelial tissue

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd