The small intestine is about 7 metres long and consists of three parts:

• Firstly, the duodenum, which makes up the first 25 cm of the small intestine. It curves around the head of the pancreas.
• Secondly, the jejunum.
• Finally, the ileum.

Digestion continues in the jejunum and ileum. Most of the products of digestion are absorbed across the walls of the small intestine into the blood stream and carried to the liver through the portal vein in the portal circulation.