Dorothy FarrarDuodenum
The intestine is an important component of the human digestive tract. It is divided into different sections, which take on different tasks. One of the sections is the duodenum . This immediately follows the stomach.
Definition
The human intestine measures around seven to eight meters in total, of which the small intestine takes up the largest part. This consists of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum.
As soon as the food particles leave the stomach and pass through the intestines, they first enter the duodenum. The name comes from its length, which measures about twelve fingers, making it about 25 centimeters long.
The path of the duodenum leads away from the stomach and takes a looped C-shape. Its course can be divided into four further sections.
After the duodenum has finished its work, it transports the chyme further so that digestion can continue. Muscles are primarily responsible for this mechanism. The jejunum follows the duodenum. Various diseases have the potential to limit the function of the duodenum.
Anatomy
The duodenum consists of four parts. Once food leaves the stomach, it reaches the upper part of the duodenum. The first section of the intestine is surrounded by bile and the right leather flap. Only the upper part of the duodenum is inside the peritoneum. The following sections, however, lie against the abdominal wall.
At the same time, the upper part of the duodenum is particularly susceptible to disease. It is followed by the descending part. This is very important because the bile and pancreas drain into this part. Both organs produce enzymes that play a crucial role in digestion.
The horizontal part represents the third section of the duodenum. This flows into the fourth part. The last part runs upwards towards the diaphragm. The duodenum as a whole is in a C-shape. The pancreas occupies the indentation made by the duodenum. While this location has numerous benefits, it can also be responsible for discomfort, such as when a tumor in the pancreas spreads to the small intestine .
The microscopic structure of the intestinal section is important for the function of the duodenum. This is identical to the layers of the rest of the intestine. Externally, there is initially a layer of connective tissue . This includes lymphatic and blood vessels that supply the duodenum.
This is followed by the muscle layer, which is divided into an inner and outer muscle layer. The muscle layers enclose a nerve plexus . On the inner side is the mucous membrane . This also has several layers. The lamina epithelialis mucosae lies on the inside. This is followed by a layer of connective tissue, which is then followed by further muscle tissue.
Function
The general task of the intestine is the digestion of food leftovers. In the different sections, the food is broken down into very small parts and the nutrients contained are then passed on to the blood . The intestines work closely with the bile and pancreas.
The duodenum is part of the small intestine, but has its own functions that are different from the other parts. Thus, the duodenum ensures the transmission of the enzymes that were formed in the bile and pancreas. These break down the food into its smallest components and make digestion possible at all.
If the duodenum did not pass on the enzymes, the remaining sections would not be able to filter nutrients and other components from the leftover food. For this reason, there is an anatomical connection between the duodenum, bile and pancreas. Enzymes are aggressive substances.
In addition to breaking down food, they also have the potential to damage the intestinal lining. Therefore, the duodenum already ensures that the acidic pH content is somewhat neutralized. In addition, the intestinal section is able to move. While this function is less pronounced compared to the following parts, the movements do an important job: they ensure that the food particles mix with the enzymes.
Diseases
- duodenal ulcer
- duodenal inflammation
The risk of a disease of the duodenum is usually higher than a disorder in the following sections. To a significant extent, this fact is due to the fact that pathogens contained in food also migrate through the duodenum. The most common disease is duodenal ulcer.
This is usually caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Although a duodenal ulcer occurs in only 2 percent of the population, it is still much more common than an ulcer of the stomach.
Another typical disease is inflammation of the duodenum. This is triggered by various pathogens, such as salmonella, and can be acute or chronic.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.