Small intestine — Anatomy Notes, Diagram & Quiz

The Small intestine is located in the abdomen. Digests and absorbs nutrients. The Small intestine is a long coiled tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine.

Small intestine highlighted in a 3D model of the human body
Small intestine highlighted in the 3D body atlas. 3D atlas: BodyParts3D (DBCLS, CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan); Écorché/Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0). Rendered in anotemy.

Key facts

Small intestine at a glance
LocationAbdomen
Main functionDigests and absorbs nutrients.
Layerorgans
Key fact 1The Small intestine is a long coiled tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine.
Key fact 2The Small intestine consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
Key fact 3The Small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, aided by villi and microvilli.

Where is the Small intestine located?

The Small intestine is located in the abdomen.

The Small intestine is a long coiled tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine.

What does the Small intestine do?

Digests and absorbs nutrients.

The Small intestine consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

What to know for exams

  • The Small intestine is a long coiled tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine.
  • The Small intestine consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
  • The Small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, aided by villi and microvilli.

It belongs to the organs layer. Learn its location, relations, and the structures it works with.

Clinical relevance

The Small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, aided by villi and microvilli.

Link the small intestine to its blood supply, innervation and relations. That is how exam questions usually test it.

Memory aid: Small intestine

The Small intestine is a long coiled tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine. The Small intestine consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The Small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, aided by villi and microvilli.

Chain it as location → function → clinical link when you revise.

Small intestine anatomy quiz

Five questions. Open each answer after you commit to a response.

  1. Where is the Small intestine located?

    Reveal answer

    Abdomen

  2. What is the main function of the Small intestine?

    Reveal answer

    Digests and absorbs nutrients.

  3. Give one key fact about the Small intestine.

    Reveal answer

    The Small intestine is a long coiled tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine.

  4. Give another key fact about the Small intestine.

    Reveal answer

    The Small intestine consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

  5. What clinical link is associated with the Small intestine?

    Reveal answer

    The Small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, aided by villi and microvilli.

Common questions

Where is the Small intestine located?

The Small intestine is located in the abdomen. The Small intestine is a long coiled tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine.

What does the Small intestine do?

Digests and absorbs nutrients. The Small intestine consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

What is a key fact about the Small intestine?

The Small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, aided by villi and microvilli.

What layer does the Small intestine belong to?

It belongs to the organs layer of the body.

What should I remember for exams?

The Small intestine is a long coiled tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine. The Small intestine consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The Small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, aided by villi and microvilli.

Sources

  1. Standring, S. (ed.). Gray’s Anatomy, 42nd edition. Elsevier, 2020.
  2. TeachMeAnatomy — anatomy library
  3. Kenhub — anatomy library
  4. StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf — Small intestine search

3D atlas and image credits

Anatomy models: BodyParts3D, © Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan. Écorché by Charleeh, derived from BodyParts3D and Z-Anatomy, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rendered in anotemy. Changes: highlighting, framing, labels and background removal. Images: CC BY-SA 4.0.

The 3D models are third-party assets under Creative Commons share-alike licences. They keep those licences; the page text is separate. If you reuse an image, keep the attribution and the share-alike licence.