Absorption and assimilation

8.3

What the syllabus asks of you

State that the small intestine is the region where nutrients are absorbed
Understand that absorption (by diffusion, osmosis and active transport) is the movement of nutrients from the intestines into cells lining the digestive system and then into the blood
Understand that assimilation is the uptake and use by cells of nutrients from the blood
Describe the structure of a villus and the roles of capillaries and lacteals
Explain the significance of villi and microvilli in increasing the internal surface area of the ileum
Understand that water is absorbed from the lumen of the small intestine and the colon, but that most absorption of water happens in the small intestine
State the function of the hepatic portal vein as the route taken to the liver by most of the molecules and ions absorbed from the ileum

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Chapter 8: Absorption and assimilation

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