A risky but often lifesaving surgery that removes damaged parts of the small intestine can leave patients facing a new threat: serious liver damage with no available treatment. Now, scientists have ...

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 ...

When it comes to intestines, it sure seems like two are better than one. I asked my friend Franck Carbonero why that is. He’s a microbiologist at Washington State University. He studies the bacteria ...

Villi are tiny projections in the small intestine that help absorb nutrients and aid digestion. Damage to your villi can lead ...

In this image, red is the color of absorption. The red cells in this image are enterocytes, which line the walls of your small intestine and are responsible for absorbing nutrients from the food you ...

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, ...

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 ...

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a rare condition in which the body cannot absorb enough nutrients because part of the small intestine is missing or not working as well as it should be. This can lead to ...