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.
Absorption is the uptake of nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood. In order to be absorbed, certain nutrients need to be broken down (digested) into smaller nutrients, for example, proteins into amino acids, starch into glucose and fats into fatty acids. Sites of Nutrient Absorption. Most nutrients are absorbed in the upper two parts of the small intestine: duodenum and jejunum. Nutrients that can be absorbed in the stomach [1-p.51]: Water; Minerals: copper, fluoride, iodide, molybdenum; Alcohol