Small intestine

• The small intestine is highly coiled and is about 7.5 metres long.
• It receives secretions from the liver and the pancreas.
• Besides, its wall also secrete juices.

• The liver is a reddish brown gland situated in the upper part of the abdomen on the right side.

• It is the largest gland in the body.
• It secretes bile juice that is stored in a sac called the gall bladder.

• The bile plays an important role in the digestion of fats.
• The pancreas is a large cream coloured gland located just below the stomach.
• The pancreatic juice acts on carbohydrates and proteins and changes them into simpler forms.

Absorption in small intestine:

• The digested food can now pass into the blood vessels in the wall of the intestine.
• This process is called absorption.
• The inner walls of the small intestine have thousands of finger-like outgrowths.
• These are called villi (singular villus).
• The villi increase the surface area for absorption of the digested food.
• The food that remains undigested and unabsorbed then enters into the large intestine.