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Duodenum
The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine. It is located between the stomach and the middle part of the small intestine, or jejunum.
After foods mix with stomach acid , they move into the duodenum, where they mix with bile from the gallbladder and digestive juices from the pancreas.
Stomach acid
Heartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in y...
Bile
Bile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile helps with digestion. It breaks down fats into fatty acid...
The absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients begins in the duodenum.
References
Drake RL, Vogl W, Mitchell AWM. Abdomen. In: Drake RL, Vogl W, Mitchell AWM, Tibbitts RM, Richardson PE, eds. Gray's Atlas of Anatomy . 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2015:chap 4.
Harris JW, Evers BM. Small intestine. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 49.
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Digestive system - illustration
The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.
Digestive system
illustration
Review Date: 12/10/2016
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
