Food stays in your small intestine for 4 to 8 hours
The duodenum's primary function is to begin the digestive process of breaking down and absorbing nutrients needed by the body.
The primary function of the jejunum is to absorb sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids
The ileum is the final portion of the small intestine, measuring around 3 meters, and ends at the cecum. It absorbs any final nutrients, with major absorptive products being vitamin B12 and bile acids.
The small intestine is adapted for absorption as it is very long and has a highly folded surface with millions of villi (tiny, finger-like projections)
These adaptations massivelyincrease the surfacearea of the small intestine, allowing absorption to take place faster and more efficiently(same adaptions as alveoli)
Peristalsis helps by mixing together food and enzymes and by keeping things moving along the alimentary canal