The small intestine plays a crucial role in the digestive system by absorbing nutrients and minerals from food. It achieves this through a combination of mechanical digestion and the action of enzymes, facilitating the transfer of nutrients into the bloodstream.

Small Intestine Function

The small intestine is a crucial component of the digestive system, responsible for the majority of nutrient absorption and digestion. It is divided into three segments: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, each playing a unique role in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream.

Small Intestine

The digestive system is a complex network of organs responsible for breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. It involves both mechanical and chemical processes, beginning in the mouth and ending in the small intestine, with waste products being expelled through the large intestine.

Digestive System

Absorbing nutrients

Absorbing minerals

Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces without altering its chemical structure, primarily occurring in the mouth and stomach. This process increases the surface area for enzymes to act upon, facilitating more efficient chemical digestion and nutrient absorption.

Mechanical Digestion

Action of enzymes

Transfer of nutrients

The bloodstream is a critical component of the circulatory system, responsible for transporting nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and waste products throughout the body. It plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis and supporting the immune system by circulating white blood cells and other immune factors to sites of infection or injury.

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