small intestine

noun

: the narrow part of the intestine that lies between the stomach and colon, consists of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, secretes digestive enzymes, and is the chief site of the digestion of food into small molecules which are absorbed into the body

Examples of small intestine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dark-red or brown stools could be due to blood being higher up in the digestive system, in the small intestine. —Dr. Roshini Raj, Health, 17 June 2024

Doctors performed a complicated surgery to resection his colon, remove his gallbladder and repair his duodenum, part of the small intestine, Roker told PEOPLE previously. —Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 15 June 2024

Then the man went to the hospital a few days ago with pain and the doctors discovered necrosis of the small intestine after having his colon removed awhile ago, Joe said. —Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 23 Apr. 2024

Doctors recently suggested to USA Today that Tyson could be suffering from a peptic ulcer — categorized as a sore on the stomach lining, small intestine, or esophagus — and proposed postponing the boxing event. —EW.com, 31 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

small intestine

noun

: the long narrow part of the intestine between the stomach and the colon in which food is mostly digested, from which digested food is absorbed into the body, and which consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum

Medical Definition

small intestine

noun

: the part of the intestine that lies between the stomach and colon, consists of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, secretes digestive enzymes, and is the chief site of the absorption of digested nutrients

called also small bowel