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

What are the responsibilities of cber, Question 1: Explain how drug app...

Question 1: Explain how drug approval is obtained through various Regulatory Bodies in India using a flow diagram? List out the different regulatory bodies in India L

Bronchiectasis, Bronchiectasis: Bronchiectasis literally means abnorma...

Bronchiectasis: Bronchiectasis literally means abnormal dilation of bronchi. It is a chronic  inflammatory condition which is characterised  by permanent dilation of bronchi a

Do all the eukaryotic cells, Q. Do all the eukaryotic cells have nucleus an...

Q. Do all the eukaryotic cells have nucleus and/or only one nucleus? There are eukaryotic cells devoid of a nucleus and others with more than one nucleus. Osteoclasts, the cell

Basic physical concepts of plant water relation, Basic Physical Concepts of...

Basic Physical Concepts of Plant Water Relation The main idea of this section is to explain the concept of chemical potential of water or water potential and the effect of var

Define atherosclerosis, Q. Explain Atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is ...

Q. Explain Atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in developed as well as in developing countries. Atherogenesis occurs

Tell us about three kinds of dna, There are 3 types of DNA sequences. Genom...

There are 3 types of DNA sequences. Genomic DNA comes from the genome and haves both genes and extragenic material. cDNA is reverse transcribed from mRNA and corresponds only

Rough and smooth endoplasrnic reticulum, Rough and Smooth Endoplasrnic Reti...

Rough and Smooth Endoplasrnic Reticulum (RER and SER) ER is differentiated into two regions, granular or rough endoplasrnic reticulum (RER) and agranular or smooth endoplasrni

How does the odor of flower petals help pollination, How does the odor of f...

How does the odor of flower petals help pollination? The purpose of the perfume is to attract a pollinator - insect, bat, bird or whatever. The reward for the pollinator is a m

How are parasites classified, Concerning the number of hosts how are parasi...

Concerning the number of hosts how are parasites classified? Parasites that need only one host are known as monoxenous parasites. Parasites that need more than one host for th

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