C.

Small Intestines i

• The small intestine is approximately 6

meters long and is composed of three regions:
the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
• It is where most enzymatic hydrolysis of the
macromolecules from food occurs. The
complete digestion of carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins occurs in the duodenum, about the
first 25 cm. of the small intestine.
• The rest of the small intestine is devoted to
absorbing water and the products of digestion
into the bloodstream.

• Absorption of the end products of digestion

takes place in the ileum, the surface area of
which is increased by villi and microvilli.
D. The Accessory Digestive Organs

• Pancreas, Liver, and Gallbladder-review the

functions discussed in previous meeting.
• The Large Intestine or Colon
- The large Intestine is much shorter than
the small intestine, about 1 meter.
- It concentrates and stores undigested
matter by absorbing mineral ions and water. A
small amount of fluid, sodium, and vitamin K
are absorbed through its walls.
 - Unlike the small intestine, it does not coil up
and does not have villi and has only one thirtieth
of the absorptive surface area of the small
intestine.

- Many bacteria live and thrive within the

large intestine where they help process undigested
material into the final excretory product, feces.
• The Rectum and Anus
- The rectum is a short extension of the large
intestine and is the final segment of the digestive
tract. It is where the compacted undigested food
from the colon are pushed via peristaltic
contractions.

- The distention of the rectum triggers expulsion

of feces.

- The anus is the terminal opening of the

digestive system through which feces are expelled.