# What's your favorite portion of the small intestine? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899 "2012-10-26T02:27:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/1 "2012-10-26T02:27:22Z")
Just as the title says, what’s your favorite section of the small intestine, and why? I prefer the duodenum because it may be the primary location of iron absorption, but I can see someone make a strong case for the jejunum. I don’t care for those of you who might prefer the ileum however, I’ll just say that much right now. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/2 "2012-10-26T02:35:49Z")
Jejunum. Go with the majority. ETA: ileum lovers I got no time for either. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/3 "2012-10-26T02:36:00Z")
Ileum. I dare you to find something more [magnificent](http://www.endoatlas.org/assets/media/img/xl/weo_ileum_normal-mucosa_laa.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/4 "2012-10-26T02:42:53Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Ileum. I dare you to find something more [magnificent](http://www.endoatlas.org/assets/media/img/xl/weo_ileum_normal-mucosa_laa.jpg). Filthy smut-peddler! Get out of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/5 "2012-10-26T04:10:26Z")
This is why I love SD. I am trying to type…but laughing too hard right now. Be back later… I am going to name my next cat - Jeju. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/6 "2012-10-26T04:19:38Z")
My favorite portion is whichever part isn’t giving me trouble at the time. Or the portion that’s giving me the least amount of trouble. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/7 "2012-10-26T04:56:25Z")
Duodenum. It sounds cooler than the other parts. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/8 "2012-10-26T10:24:45Z")
Pyloric sphincter. Sure, sure, you might think it’s better considered part of the stomach. nuts to that, I say. Plus, “sphincter” is just funny to say. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/9 "2012-10-26T10:37:35Z")
Duodenum all the way. It’s where the excitement happens. I mean, come on guys, it’s got the _sphincter of Oddi_. What more do you want? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/10 "2012-10-26T12:10:29Z")
You left out “kishka.” ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/11 "2012-10-26T12:27:57Z")
Duodenum, because I think it’s so much fun to say. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/12 "2012-10-26T14:05:29Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Duodenum, because I think it’s so much fun to say. Yeah, once I learned that it’s not pronounced the “two pairs of jeans” way. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/13 "2012-10-26T14:16:40Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > You left out “kishka.” That’s because someone _stole_ it. I don’t know who. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/14 "2012-10-26T15:42:26Z")
I’m really kind of fond of my entire intestine. It’s given me good service over the years. Good digestion, no ulcers. I guess if I have to pick a favorite, it’s the duodenum . . . just because. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/15 "2012-10-26T15:52:44Z")
I like the whole enchilada. It serves me well when I want to digest a – well, whole enchilada. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Plus, “sphincter” is just funny to say. One of these days I want to get to Giza so I can see the Great Pyramids and the Sphincter. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/16 "2012-10-26T15:57:37Z")
If there is a more fun body part than the duodenum to pronounce, I have never heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/17 "2012-10-26T15:58:58Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > If there is a more fun body part than the duodenum to pronounce, I have never heard of it. Tibia? Tarsus? Humorus? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/18 "2012-10-26T16:05:27Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I don’t care for those of you who might prefer the ileum however, I’ll just say that much right now. How silly. The best pathology is in the terminal ileum - aphthous ulcers, granulomas etc. I can’t tell you how many boooring duodenal biopsies I have to look at every day. “Rule out sprue, rule out sprue”. There’s hardly anything of interest there - maybe some [Giardia lamblia](http://fcmdsc.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/giardia-trph1.jpg) once in a blue moon. Maybe an ulcer now and then - big effing deal. The ileum has [really cool villi and lymphoid nodules](http://www.gastrointestinalatlas.com/English/Jejuno_and_Ileum/Jejuno_and_Ileum_Normal/jejuno_and_ileum_normal.html). Case closed. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/19 "2012-10-26T16:09:25Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Tibia? Tarsus? Humorus? Not even in the same league. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899/20 "2012-10-26T16:10:00Z")
Humbug, I learned it as the ileo-jejunum (or jejuno-ileum if you were some unsophisticated rube) and I’ll say ti that way to my grave. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-portion-of-the-small-intestine/638899.md?page=2)