In Depth: Organs The small intestine occupies the majority of
the space of the abdominal cavity. This 21-foot long tube is
where the bulk of digestion occurs. The small intestine breaks
down fats, starches, and proteins into fatty acids, which can
then be absorbed. The food you eat takes three to five hours to
work its way through the small intestine. Despite it’s
misleading name, the large intestine is shorter (about five
feet) than the small intestine, but it is larger in girth. It is
the last part of the digestive tract and made up of the cecum,
colon, and rectum. At the height of the cavity is the liver, the
body’s largest organ. It acts like a filtration system. It rids
the body of toxins and produces bile to aid the process of
metabolism, which is how food is broken down. The gallbladder is
a tiny sack near the liver that holds extra bile made by the
liver until it is pumped into the small intestine. Bile helps
break down fat. Directly below the liver, the stomach stores
food and prepares it for digesti