Arrow (down) icon.An arrow icon, usually indicating that the containing element can be opened and closed. 1  Screening for Prostate Cancer Minus iconIcon indicating subtraction, or that the element can be closed. Plus IconIcon indicating addition, or that the element can be opened.
The small intestine is a long, highly convoluted tube in the digestive system that absorbs about 90% of the nutrients from the food we eat. It is given the name âsmall intestineâ because it is only 1 inch in diameter, making it less than half the diameter of the large intestine.
Digestion is the breakdown of large insoluble food molecules into small water-soluble food molecules so that they can be absorbed into the watery blood plasma.In certain organisms, these smaller substances are absorbed through the small intestine into the blood stream.Digestion is a form of catabolism that is often divided into two processes based on how food is broken down: mechanical and chemical digestion.hen the chyme is fully digested, it is absorbed into the blood. 95% of absorption of nutrients occurs in the small intestine. Water and minerals are reabsorbed back into the blood in the colon (large intestine) where the pH is slightly acidic about 5.6 ~ 6.9.