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.
It's a muscular tube that is divided into three distinct parts: duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The three parts are major sites of digestion and absorption. Absorption is a crucial part of the digestive system that brings the molecules from the digested food into the blood and, ultimately, the cells. Photo Â© A.D.A.M.