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Digestion in the first section

  • The complete small intestine is about 6 metres long.
  • The chyme from the stomach enters the first part of the small intestine. The chyme is acidic.
  • The liver makes bile.
  • The gall bladder stores the bile and releases it through the bile duct into the small intestine.
  • The bile breaks down the fats into small droplets.
  • The bile neutralises the acidic chyme.
  • The pancreas releases pancreatic juices into the small intestine.
  • Pancreatic juice contains many enzymes which further digest the chyme.
  • Pancreatic juice also neutralises the acidic chyme.

Absorption in the Second Section

  • At this stage, the food has become completely digested.
  • The nutrients need to be absorbed from the digestive system into our bloodstream.
  • There are millions of tiny cells called villi on the inside of the small intestine.
  • Nutrients from the digested food pass through the villi into our bloodstream.