US Medical Term · anatomy
Jejunum
Yeyuno
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Jejunum |
| Spanish (Español) | Yeyuno |
| Chinese (中文) | 空腸 |
| Korean (한국어) | 공장 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hỗng tràng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Heyunum |
| Portuguese (Português) | Jejuno |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ลำไส้เล็กส่วนกลาง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 空腸 |
What it means
The jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine, located between the duodenum — which connects to the stomach — and the ileum — which connects to the large intestine. It is about eight feet long and makes up about two-fifths of the total length of the small intestine. The jejunum is responsible for absorbing most of the nutrients from digested food, including sugars, amino acids from proteins, and fatty acids. Its inner walls are covered with finger-like projections called villi and even smaller microvilli that create a huge surface area for absorption. Celiac disease — an immune reaction to gluten — primarily damages the jejunum's lining, reducing nutrient absorption and causing diarrhea, bloating, and malnutrition.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The biopsy from the jejunum showed damage to the villi, which confirmed I have celiac disease.
La biopsia del yeyuno mostró daño en las vellosidades, lo que confirmó que tengo enfermedad celíaca.
After my gastric bypass surgery, food bypasses the stomach and first part of the small intestine and enters directly in my jejunum.
Después de mi cirugía de bypass gástrico, la comida pasa por alto el estómago y la primera parte del intestino delgado y entra directamente en el yeyuno.
My feeding tube goes directly into the jejunum so I can get nutrition without using my stomach.
Mi sonda de alimentación va directamente al yeyuno para poder recibir nutrición sin usar el estómago.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026