Absorption

Question 1

Define ABSORPTION

Answer 1

Absorption is the movement of food that has been digested into the bloodstream.

Question 2

What influences the rate of absorption?

Answer 2

• the rate of digestion
• the surface area of food
• the volume of food (depends on whether the horse has been meal fed or trickle fed - affects the rate of passage).

Question 3

What in the small intestine increases the rate of absorption?

Answer 3

Villi

Question 4

What are three VFAs?

Answer 4

Acetate, butyrate and propionate

Question 5

Define the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

Answer 5

The endoplasmic reticulum is a network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a cell. Involved in protein synthesis - once proteins are amino acids or small peptides, they are must easier to absorb.

Question 6

Define GLUCOSE RECEPTORS

Answer 6

Glucose receptors (or transporters) are membrane proteins that facilitate the transport of glucose acorss the plasma membrane e.g. GLUT1 requires glucose all the time

Question 7

What happens in the ileum?

Answer 7

A lot of the digestion should be completed by the time digesta reaches the ileum so it is largely a site for absoption.

Question 8

Where is a lot of water absorbed?

Answer 8

The large intestine

Question 9

What is absorbed in the small intestine?

Answer 9

Carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

All parts of the SI are sites for digestion and absorption, but particularly the ileum for absorption.