Structure Fits Function – The Small Intestine
categories: Science
Did you ever wonder what happens inside the digestive system or where your food goes after you swallow it? Part of the process of the food digesting is the small intestine. By the time, the food gets to the small intestine it is broken down into almost a liquid. But what is the small intestine? That’s what I’m going to tell you today!
- The Small Intestine has a rough surface (villi) so the food will be absorbed by it into the body. It isn’t stored, but it is absorbed.
- It is 15-30 ft long, to make sure the maximum the number of nutrients absorbed from the food.
- Because it is so long, the body coils it up on itself.
- So it doesn’t uncoil, the Small Intestine is surrounded by the Large Intestine.
- It also has a thick muscle layer surrounding it to increase the surface area.
All of that helps the Small Intestine do its function!
