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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.
1) ingestion-taking food in. 2) digestion- breaking down food into molecules small enough to be absorbed into the capillaries and cells of the body. 3) absorption- digested food leaves the digestive system and enters the circulatory system and eventually the cells of the body. 4) elimination- removal of undigested food from digestive system.