The apparatus used to model absorption in the small intestine can be set up like this. At regular intervals the liquid inside and outside of the Visking tubing is sampled and tested for starch ...

However, for some people, the adhesion may cause the intestine to become fixed or stuck on another organ. Additionally, the adhesions may form between different parts of the small or large bowel.

Guido Hooiveld’s proof-of-concept study, examining how the small-intestine microbiota ... are taken from just one end of the intestinal pipe and only tell part of the story.