Both the jejunum and the ileum have linings with many folds that increase the surface area of the small intestine (about 2,700 square feet or 250 square meters) for maximized nutrient absorption.

Despite its small diameter, the small intestine actually has a very high surface area. That’s because its walls are actually covered in folds and hair-like projections.

The intestines work by absorbing nutrients and vitamins. They are part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Together, the small and large intestines run from the end of the stomach to the anus. In ...

The workings of the small intestine have long been a mystery, but now we are discovering the hidden roles this organ plays in ...

Stretching as much as 20 feet, the small intestine is coiled in folds and fills most of your abdomen. There are a number of conditions that can impact the small intestine, including celiac disease ...

Small intestine cancer is a rare disease where cells in the tissue of the small intestine change. They grow out of control and can form a mass, or tumor. Your doctor will do a thorough medical ...

An 83-year-old man with a history of health problems was hospitalized after he suffered an intestinal protrusion from his ...

The small intestine can measure about 9–16 ft, while the large intestine is roughly 5 ft long. The intestines have the important role of helping break down and absorb nutrients from food and drink.

When it comes to processing fructose, the liver is a pinch hitter for the small intestine. To use fructose for energy, the body needs to convert it into another type of simple sugar called glucose ...

The small intestine alone is about 20 feet long, and the large intestine about 5 feet long. 4. ... Your intestines can fold like a telescope—but that's not something you want to happen.

The mesentery, a ruffled and folded flap around the intestines, reaches from the base of the stomach down to the rectum. For support, it latches to the abdominal wall and the area of the backbone.