The Small Intestine, Liver and Pancreas
The small intestine is a 2 m long, narrow tube located in the lower abdomen. The digestion process is completed here with the help of the pancreatic juices and bile juices.
The pancreas produces pancreatic juices that act on starch and fat. The liver produces a greenish fluid called bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and released when food enters the small intestine. Bile helps to digest fats. After digestion, carbohydrates are changed to glucose, proteins are changed to amino acids, and fats are changed into fatty acids.
The villi are tiny, fingerlike structures on the walls of the intestine that increase the absorption of nutrients that flow into the bloodstream. The villi have smaller structures in them called microvilli which enhance their function in absorbing nutrients.
