Jejunum

The middle portion of the small intestine is referred to as the jejunum. It connects the duodenum to the ileum. The length of the jejunum is approximately 2.5m. The pH of the jejunum is maintained between 7 and 9, i.e., either neutral or slightly alkaline. The internal membrane of the jejunum is lined with finger like projections referred to as the villi. The surface area of the internal membrane of the jejunum that is available for the absorption of nutrients and products of digestion is increased manifold by the presence of villi. The epithelial cells lining the villi have microvilli. Various nutrients are transported through the epithelial cells of the jejunum. The sugar fructose moves through passive transport and the amino acids, vitamins, small peptides and glucose moves through active transport. The wall of the jejunum contains longitudinal and circular smooth muscles that help to move the food further in the jejunum by a process referred to as peristalsis.

Health Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

Anyone who has lived with obesity for any length of time will be well aware that the negative effects of carrying excessive weight are not limited to physical appearance. Overweight and obesity can impact upon every system in the body, leading to a host of health problems that limit quality of life and life expectancy. The social stigma carried by obesity can have a significant detrimental effect upon self-esteem and psychological wellbeing, whilst the physiological changes associated with the condition can lead to multiple life-threatening co-morbidities.

Gallbladder

One of the functions of the gallbladder is to concentrate the bile produced by the liver. Mainly by removing water, the bile is reduced from a fifth to a tenth of its original volume until reaching the maximum capacity of the gallbladder at about 50 milliliters. This concentration is a kind of balancing act. If the gallbladder doesn’t concentrate the bile, then there may not be enough active ingredients to break down a heavy load of fat, resulting in digestive problems. If the gallbladder performs too much concentration, the lack of water may stimulate the formation of gallstones around impurities in the high saturation of cholesterol.