Digestion in the Small Intestine (Grades 5-6)

Digestion in the Small Intestine (Grades 5-6)

Digestion in the Small Intestine (Grades 5-6)
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 5 to 6
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	6.36

Vocabulary

challenging words:

amino, contraction, lymphatic, abdomen, bloodstream, capillary, digestion, fatty, lining, digestive, acid, liver, liquid, process, lymph, important

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Digestion in the Small Intestine
By Jennifer Kenny

¹     The small intestine is a very important stop in the digestive process. In fact, most of digestion occurs here. The small intestine is a long, narrow, twisting tube of muscles and tissue. It can be anywhere from thirteen feet to twenty feet long, but it is only one inch in diameter. It is coiled tightly so that it can fit in the abdomen.

²     Before entering the small intestine, the liquid result of digestion leaves the stomach. Do you know what this liquid food is called? It is called chyme. The muscles create waves and push the liquid along. These waves of muscle contraction are called peristalsis.

³     The first part of the small intestine is about eight to ten inches long. It has a special name. It is called the duodenum. It is shaped like a horseshoe. Chemicals here neutralize the acid so chyme can continue in the digestive system. Digestive juices from the liver and pancreas enter here and mix with the liquid food. These juices finish breaking down fats, proteins, starches, and sugars.

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