Duodenum (Small Intestine)
Once food is mixed with acid in your stomach, the food-acid mixture slowly enters the small intestine. It's hard to believe, but your small intestine is about 20 feet long. (It is called the small intestine because it is narrow in diameter.) Your small intestine is divided into three parts - the duodenum, jejuneum, and ileum. The duodenum is the first 12 inches of the small intestine and it is here that the bile from the liver and the enzymes from the pancreas enter the intestinal tract to help digest the food. This is a short video that illustrates the view your doctor has during a gastroscopy examination. Here you can see the the duodenum. Notice the circular ridges and churning action which help mix the food with enzymes so it can be digested fully. Best viewed via a broadband connection such as cable modem or DSL service. A 56K dialup modem may take up to 10 minutes to load.
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Text & Images Courtesy of Three Rivers Endoscopy Center
© Dr. Robert Fusco, Three Rivers Endoscopy Center, All Rights Reserved
© Dr. Robert Fusco, Three Rivers Endoscopy Center, All Rights Reserved