Organs
Intestines
Interactive Intestines
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The purpose of the digestive system is to break food down into usable components, and then get them to the parts of the body that need them. The small intestine is responsible for transferring all of the broken down carbohydrates, proteins and fats into the blood stream so that the body can use them for energy.
The small intestine is 20 feet long (7 meters) and is made up of three parts:
The Duodenum
The Jejunum
The Ileum
Much of this digestion occurs in the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. The duodenum is only a small part of the small part of the small intestine, approximately 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. It has two small tubes that bring enzymes to the small intestine. One of the tubes comes from a gland called the pancreas, which makes most of the enzymes that digest food in the small intestine. The other tube comes from the liver, which helps in the digestion of fats.
Small intestine transplants are performed due to irreversible intestinal failure. Most failure is caused by short-gut syndrome (a significant loss of length of the small intestine from birth; surgical removal or trauma). People with intestinal failure must receive nutrients intravenously. However, long-term intravenous feeding usually causes liver damage, so many people requiring small intestine transplants also require liver transplants at the same time.
In 2003, there were 116 intestine transplants performed. During that time period, 47 patients died waiting for an intestine transplant.
