US Medical Term · anatomy
Small Intestine
Intestino delgado
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Small Intestine |
| Spanish (Español) | Intestino delgado |
| Chinese (中文) | 小腸 |
| Korean (한국어) | 소장 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Ruột non |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Maliit na bituka |
| Portuguese (Português) | Intestino delgado |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ลำไส้เล็ก |
| Japanese (日本語) | 小腸 |
What it means
The small intestine is a long, coiled tube — about twenty feet in adults — that fills most of the middle of the abdomen. Despite its name, it is actually longer than the large intestine; it is called small because of its narrower diameter. This is where most digestion and nearly all nutrient absorption takes place. The inner walls are covered with millions of tiny finger-like projections called villi that greatly increase the surface area for absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream. The small intestine has three sections: the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. Conditions like Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and bowel obstructions commonly affect the small intestine.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have Crohn's disease and the inflammation is mainly in my small intestine.
Tengo enfermedad de Crohn y la inflamación es principalmente en el intestino delgado.
The doctor said my small intestine is not absorbing nutrients properly because of celiac disease.
El médico dijo que mi intestino delgado no absorbe bien los nutrientes debido a la enfermedad celíaca.
They found a blockage in my small intestine and I may need surgery to clear it.
Encontraron una obstrucción en mi intestino delgado y puede que necesite cirugía para eliminarla.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026