Jejunum facts for kids

The jejunum is an important part of your small intestine. It's located right between the duodenum (the first part) and the ileum (the last part). Imagine your small intestine as a long, winding tube; the jejunum is the middle section! It's usually about 1 to 2 meters long in humans.

The name "jejunum" comes from a Latin word, "jejunus." This word means "empty of food," "meager," or "hungry." Ancient Greek doctors noticed that this part of the intestine was often empty when they examined bodies after death. That's how it got its name!

What Does the Jejunum Do?

The jejunum has a super important job in your body: it's where most of the good stuff from your food gets absorbed! After food leaves your stomach and passes through the duodenum, it enters the jejunum. Here, tiny nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are taken into your bloodstream.

How Does It Absorb Nutrients?

The jejunum is perfectly designed for absorption. Its inner surface isn't smooth; it has many tiny folds and finger-like bumps called villi (say: VIL-eye). These villi make the surface area much larger, like the bristles of a brush. Each villus also has even tinier projections called microvilli.

• Villi: These are small, finger-shaped parts that stick out from the lining of the jejunum. They help to grab nutrients.
• Microvilli: These are even smaller, microscopic bumps on the villi. They increase the surface area even more, allowing for maximum absorption.

All these folds and bumps mean the jejunum has a huge surface area, about the size of a tennis court! This massive area allows your body to soak up as many nutrients as possible from the food you eat. Once absorbed, these nutrients travel through your blood to all parts of your body, giving you energy and helping you grow.

Images for kids

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  Transmission electron microscope (TEM) image of human jejunum, showing tiny microvilli.

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  TEM image of mouse jejunum (14,000-fold magnification), revealing its detailed structure.

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  Dog jejunum (magnified 100-fold), showing the folds and villi.

See also

In Spanish: Yeyuno para niños