Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Test Prep

The order in which nutrients move through the small intestine after leaving the stomach is Duodenum, Jejunum, and Ilium.

The small intestine is composed of three main sections: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. After chyme (partially digested food) exits the stomach, it first enters the duodenum, which is the initial section of the small intestine. The duodenum is where most chemical digestion takes place, as it receives digestive juices from the pancreas and bile from the liver that are crucial for breaking down food.

Once the food has been processed in the duodenum, it moves into the jejunum, where the majority of nutrient absorption occurs. The walls of the jejunum are lined with numerous villi and microvilli, which increase the surface area for absorption significantly.

Finally, any remaining nutrients and waste pass into the ileum, the last section of the small intestine, which continues the process of absorption, especially for vitamin B12 and bile salts.

Thus, the correct sequence reflects the physiological structure and function of the small intestine: first the duodenum, followed by the jejunum, and then the ileum.