Explain the small intestine, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain the Small Intestine?

The small intestine is made up of three sections, the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. Bile from the liver and pancreatic enzymes are released into the first section of the small intestine, the duodenum, where most of the overall digestion occurs although it is short - only about 25 cm. Their arrival triggers the production of mucus and the release of digestive enzymes from the glands at the base of projections called villi found in the mucus lining of the intestine. Villi function to expand the exposed surface area of the cell membranes in order to increase the rate of absorption of processed nutrients passing through the digestive tract. Each finger-like villus membrane surface is itself covered with millions of microvilli - even tinier finger-like projections of cell membrane, giving the small intestine a huge surface area for transport of nutrients. Enzymes secreted by the intestinal wall include lipases to split fats into glycerol and fatty acids; peptidases that break proteins down into amino acids; and maltase, lactase, and sucrase, that convert disaccharides into monosaccharides. The products of digestion are delivered to the circulatory system by a process called absorption. Absorption takes place through the villi into capillaries and lymph vessels called lacteals that line the intestine. Fatty acids formed in the interior space or lumen of the intestine diffuse into the mucosa, where triglycerides are synthesized and combined with cholesterol and phospholipids, then coated with protein to form water-soluble chylomicrons, which are carried into the lacteals and eventually into the blood stream near the heart through the large lymph duct called the thoracic duct. The products of digestion of sugars and proteins are carried by the capillaries to the liver, where the glucose is converted to glycogen for storage, and the rest of the nutrients are filtered for detoxification and then distributed by the blood stream to the rest of the body.


Related Discussions:- Explain the small intestine

Porifera, how to write character of porifera

how to write character of porifera

Theory of pangenesis, THEO R Y OF PANGENESIS - To make up the weaknes...

THEO R Y OF PANGENESIS - To make up the weakness of inheritance Darwin in this theory assumed the existence of Pangenes (gem mules) as small units (representives) of each par

Biological sickness of soil, what is biological sickness of soil and its ma...

what is biological sickness of soil and its management

Storage excretion, Storage Excretion Many insects exhibit a phenomenon...

Storage Excretion Many insects exhibit a phenomenon known as storage excretion. If excretory products are stored in the body instead of being eliminated, no water is expended

Describe in detail about the chlorophyll molecule, Describe in detail about...

Describe in detail about the chlorophyll molecule Each chlorophyll molecule contains magnesium ion, there could be no green plants without magnesium. As magnesium is present in

Would induction of CYP 2E1 raise your blood alcohol level?, If I take a dru...

If I take a drug that induced the synthesis of CYP 2E1 in my system, would that raise or lower my blood alcohol level after I drink a beer or wine (compared to if I hadn''t taken t

Symptoms of non-ketotic hyperosmolar diabetic coma, Q. Symptoms of Non-Keto...

Q. Symptoms of Non-Ketotic Hyperosmolar Diabetic Coma? Following are the signs and symptoms of NKHDC: 1) Polyuria 2) Polydipsia 3) Weight loss 4) Mental Confusion

Causes of degradation of ecosystem due to agriculture, Causes of Degradatio...

Causes of Degradation of Ecosystem Due to Agriculture Degradation of the ecosystem due to agriculture can be on the following accounts: a) Removal of trees (deforestation

Lymph, Why lymph is also called middle man of body

Why lymph is also called middle man of body

Describe chronic mr murmur in mr murmur, Describe Chronic MR Murmur in MR M...

Describe Chronic MR Murmur in MR Murmur ? Characteristic: Pan systolic murmur, often loudest at apex and radiates to axilla, may also be audible in back and over the entire pre

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd