Small intestine Flashcards
What are the three parts of the small intestine?
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
What is the duodenum?
The proximal section of the small intestine, separated from the stomach by the pyloric sphincter.
What can the duodenum be divided into?
4 parts:
Superior, descending, horizontal and ascending.
What is the location of the superior part of the duodenum?
It travels slightly superiorly and posteriorly at the side of the vertebral column (at the level of L1).
Where does the descending part of the duodenum travel?
Inferiorly, over part of the kidney to L3.
Where does the horizontal part of the duodenum travel?
Medially to the left, crossing the aorta at L3.
Where does the ascending part of the duodenum travel?
Superiorly on the left of the aorta to L2 where it becomes the jejunum.
What’s the function of the descending duodenum?
It receives further digestive secretions from the liver and gall bladder via the bile duct and pancreas via the pancreatic duct.
Where does the jejunum begin?
At the duodenojejunal junction to the left of the L2 vertebrae.
What is the jejunum?
The middle part of the small intestine and becomes the ileum, the distal small intestine, at an anatomically indistinct junction.
How are the jejunum and ileum anchored to the posterior body wall? And what is their function?
By the mesentery and are the primary site of nutrient absorption.
