Most of us assume digestion takes place in the stomach. Not true. While some carbohydrates and proteins are broken down in the mouth and stomach, and water is absorbed through the walls of the stomach along with a few minerals, most of our nutrients from food are broken down completely and absorbed through the upper intestinal tract.
The small intestines are made of three parts: the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. The duodenum is short—only about 30 centimeters—but the jejunum runs about two meters long and the ileum is another three meters in length. The intestine is a contorted tube about two to three centimeters in diameter. Throughout the inside of the intestines are finger-like protrusions called villi. These villi are lined with blood and lymph vessels to absorb the nutrients.
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