Medical Term

duodenum

the first part of the small INTESTINE where food ( CHYME ) from the stomach is subject to action by BILE and pancreatic ENZYMES . The duodenum also secretes a HORMONE secretion that contributes to the breakdown of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, In the duodenum, the acid conditions pertaining from the stomach are neutralized and rendered alkaline for the intestinal enzymes to operate.

Source: mediLexicon corpus · slug duodenum