Which organ is approximately 20 feet long and divided into 3 sections?

• A. Small intestine
• B. Large intestine
• C. Stomach
• D. Esophagus

Answer: (A)

The organ that is about 20 feet long and divided into three sections is the small intestine. Its great length provides a large surface area for digestion and nutrient absorption, especially when folded by villi and microvilli. The three sections are the duodenum, where chyme mixes with bile and pancreatic juices; the jejunum, the main site for nutrient absorption; and the ileum, which continues absorption and reabsorbs bile acids and vitamin B12. The other options don’t fit this description: the esophagus is only about a foot long and not organized into three major parts; the stomach is a sack-like organ and not tens of feet long; the large intestine is longer than the esophagus but only about 5 feet long and comprises several sections, not three.