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, ...

There is an association between hypothyroidism and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), but the exact mechanistic link between these 2 conditions is not fully elucidated. We evaluate the ...

Ampullary cancer is a rare form of cancer that develops in the ampulla of Vater. This is a small opening located on the duodenum, which is the first section of the small intestine. Secretions from the ...

The gut microbiome is an important ecosystem of microbes that lives in each one of us, and its strength affects our overall health. However, the small intestine is an underappreciated part of the gut ...

The terms "intestinal barrier" and "intestinal permeability" describe two different aspects of the same anatomical structure, the intestinal wall composed of four layers, the mucosa, the submucosa, ...

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare type of compression of the small intestine. It’s a treatable condition, but a delayed diagnosis can lead to more severe symptoms or even death. SMA ...