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The small intestine is a long, highly convoluted tube in the digestive system that absorbs about 90% of the nutrients from the food we eat. It is given the name âsmall intestineâ because it is only 1 inch in diameter, making it less than half the diameter of the large intestine.
The digested bolus is now called chyme and it leaves the stomach by passing through the pyloric sphincter. The Human Digestive System Chyme is now in the small intestine. The majority of absorption occurs here. The liver and pancreas help the small intestine to maximize absorption.he bolus is passed to the pharynx (throat) and the epiglottis makes sure the bolus passes into the esophagus and not down the windpipe! The Human Digestive System The bolus passes down the esophagus by peristalsis. Peristalsis is a wave of muscular contractions that push the bolus down towards the stomach.