chapter 14 digestive systems

Question 1

What are the adaptation for absorption in the small intestine?

Answer 1

• Presence of called villi (plural)/ villus (singular) that increases surface area to volume ratio for absorption
  
  • The one cell thick wall
    on the villi make it faster for digested
    food molecules to diffuse into
    the bloodstream.
  • Many blood capillaries are present
    to help carry away absorbed food
    molecules quickly to maintain steep
    concentration gradient.
  • Blood capillaries network help to
    transport amino acids and glucose
    to the body. (Diffuse into blood
    capillaries)
  • Lacteal helps to
    transport fats to the body. (Diffuse
    into the wall then
    lacteal (fatty acids and glycerol
    recombine to form fats)
  • Water and mineral salts are absorbed into the blood capillaries in the small intestines and colon (large intestine)