A risky but often lifesaving surgery that removes damaged parts of the small intestine can leave patients facing a new threat ...

The human small intestine is an essential organ that helps us absorb nutrients and vitamins from food. It is an average of 6 meters long and is covered with millions of villi that are separated by ...

Intestinal villi (singular: villus)are tiny, finger-like projections that line the interior (lumen) of the small intestine. The primary function of villi is to absorb nutrients from food and transfer ...

Through a collaboration between Cornell and the State University of Binghamton in February, scientists found that food grade nanoparticles may potentially have detrimental effects on the function and ...

This story is part of a series exploring human anatomy and physiology complexities. Each story in this collection showcases discoveries reshaping our understanding of the body's inner workings, ...

An international team of scientists based in the Netherlands, and in China, has found that intestinal cells can change specializations during their lives, driven by the BMP signaling pathway, an ...

Everyone has bacteria in their gut. They play a key part in digestion. But these bacteria live mostly in your large intestine, or colon, not your small intestine. When too many of the wrong kind of ...

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) affects how well the small intestine absorbs nutrients. Surgery, medications, and nutritional support are all part of a comprehensive treatment plan for this condition. SBS ...