What is the small bowel? The small bowel, also known as the small intestine, is the portion of the digestive tract that connects the stomach and the large bowel, also called the colon (see colon cancer). There are three distinct parts of the small bowel: 1) the duodenum, 2) the jejunum and 3) the ileum. (Note: Although these three parts can all be grouped under the term "small bowel", there are several notable differences between them, such as blood supply, degree of attachment, surrounding structures, etc.) In order to fit inside a person's body, the small and large intestines are folded up into a very compact form. However, if you were to unfold the small bowel and measure its full length, it would be about 15 to 20 feet long! In fact, the small bowel makes up about 75% of the entire digestive system. What does the small bowel do? The small bowel plays a critical role in the ... read more on Cancer of the Small Bowel