explain the physiology of digestion in small intestine class 10
Answers
The small intestine is the longest part of the human digestive system. It is a highly coiled long, thin tube which is about 7.5 meters in length. The length of the small intestine depends on the diet of the organism. A major proportion of digestion takes place in the small intestines. All types of nutrients are digested here with the help of secretions which it receives from the liver and the pancreas. The walls of the small intestine also secrete juices for digesting food.
The liver releases bile juice which alkalizes the acidic food received from the stomach and also emulsifies the fat content. The pancreatic juice digests the proteins and lipids. Finally, the intestinal secretions convert the carbohydrates into glucose, proteins to amino acids and fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
Once the food is broken down into the simple particles, it is ready to be absorbed by the body. The villi, finger-like projections present on the walls of the small intestine, absorb the digested food by increasing the surface area. The absorbed food is then transported to different parts of the body through the blood vessels for cell activities.