Abnormal small intestine morphology Congenital shortened small intestine 2016-07-12T08:06:56Z Short bowel The mean length of the small intestine in full-term newborns is approximately 240 cm, increasing to 430 cm by 15 years of age. In adults, the average small bowel length is reported to be 600 cm, with a range of 260 cm to 800 cm. Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a clinical disorder that is characterized by diarrhea and malabsorption following the functional or anatomical loss of enough small bowel length to markedly compromise intestinal absorptive capacity. SBS may result from from surgical resection, congenital defect, or disease-associated loss of absorption. This term describes congenital shortening of the small intestine that is one phenotypic feature of SBS. Substantially shortened length of the small intestine as a result of a developmental defect.