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 ...

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, ...

Adhesions from prior abdominal surgeries are the most common cause of SBO. Untreated SBO can lead to serious complications like bowel perforation or tissue death (strangulation). Symptoms of SBO ...

An annular pancreas is a rare congenital deformity (one that you are born with) that affects the pancreas. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t develop as it should. Instead, a ring of extra ...

Inflammation from Crohn’s disease can cause thickening or scar tissue inside your small intestine, which sometimes leads to narrow areas called strictures. A strictureplasty for Crohn’s disease is a ...