On one end:

* The stomach: The small intestine receives partially digested food from the stomach through the pyloric sphincter.

On the other end:

* The large intestine: The small intestine connects to the large intestine through the ileocecal valve.

Other connections:

* Pancreas and liver: The small intestine receives digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver through a common duct. These secretions are essential for further digestion.

In summary: The small intestine acts as a crucial link in the digestive process, receiving food from the stomach, mixing it with digestive juices from the pancreas and liver, and passing the partially digested food to the large intestine.