Arrow (down) icon.An arrow icon, usually indicating that the containing element can be opened and closed. 1  Screening for Prostate Cancer Minus iconIcon indicating subtraction, or that the element can be closed. Plus IconIcon indicating addition, or that the element can be opened.
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.
Digestion proper, which is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into particles/molecules small enough to pass into the blood. Absorption is the passage of food monomers into the blood stream. Assimilation is the passage of the food molecules into body cells. Components of the Digestive System | Back to Top