The small intestine
Small intestine (jejunum) · intestinum tenue
A long, coiled tube where most of the nutrients in your food are absorbed.
What it does
The small intestine winds through the middle of the abdomen. Its lining is folded into millions of finger-like projections called villi that soak up sugars, amino acids, fats, vitamins and minerals into the blood. The blood carries them first to the liver for processing.
Surprising fact
In a living person the small intestine is about three to five metres long, longer than most cars.
Why it matters
In coeliac disease, gluten triggers an immune attack that flattens the villi, so nutrients aren't absorbed well. A gluten-free diet lets them recover.
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.