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Duodenum Defined

By , About.com Guide

Updated January 22, 2012

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Definition: The first segment of the small intestine, connecting the stomach to the jejunum, which removes nutrients from digested food and then puts them in to the blood stream.

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Before Your Surgery

Common Questions About Surgery

Pronunciation: duo-dee-num or do-ahh-deh-dum
Examples:
During weight-loss surgery, the duodenum is bypassed to reduce the calories available to the body.

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