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

Biochemestry, what are peptides and poly peptides hormones

what are peptides and poly peptides hormones

Gastrulation in some animals, Gastrulation in some Animals As mentione...

Gastrulation in some Animals As mentioned before gastrulation marks the beginning of morphogenesis that is development of body form and organisation of cells in the embryo. By

How to increase in sodium conductance, How to increase in sodium conductanc...

How to increase in sodium conductance A complete motor neuron is removed from a frog and placed in normal physiological saline at 1 AM.  The neuron is healthy.  At 2 AM, the ph

Describe in detail about the psychological testing, Describe in detail abou...

Describe in detail about the Psychological Testing Psychological testing is the third source of information about the child, and the source most often equated with neuropsychol

Water, Water Water is the most important constituent of all living tis...

Water Water is the most important constituent of all living tissue. It forms up to 95% of the fresh weight of some animals. We all know that water is lost through sweat, excre

Photosynthesis, photosynthesis moderates global warming, briefly explain th...

photosynthesis moderates global warming, briefly explain this statement

Explain cognitive - behavioural approaches, Cognitive - Behavioural Approac...

Cognitive - Behavioural Approaches They includepsychoeducatiorzal and rational-emotive  therapy. The goal is to identify problem behaviour and irrational beliefs and then to de

What are the basic type of neurons, Q. According to the function of the tra...

Q. According to the function of the transmitted neural impulse which are the types of neurons? How different are the concepts of afference and efference of the neural impulse trans

What is revisions, Q. What is Revisions? Revision accounts for only a s...

Q. What is Revisions? Revision accounts for only a section of a genus or for the elements as restricted to a continent or smaller geographical area. Some revisions are based so

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