Small intestine
<p>May 09, 2015 06:13 PM</p>
<p>
22 feet, 8 inches long in adult male = 6.9 meters and 7.1 meters in an adult female
(Call it 7 meters or 23 feet) 2.5 to 3 cm diam.
surface area = 30 sq meters.</p>
<p>
digestion and absorption of food;</p>
<p>
duodenum, jejunum, ileum.</p>
<p>
human GI tract... directly applic to most placental mamals.</p>
<p>
1st function is absorp of nutrients and minerals from food.</p>
<p>
(major exception is cows... see ruminants)</p>
<p>
Histology: mucosal intest epithelium: simple columnar cells with goblets and Paneth cells.</p>
<p>
also see crypts of Lieberkuhn and intest villi.</p>