Assimilation

Amino acids and soluble sugars diffuse into the blood capillaries and are transported to the
tributaries which join the hepatic portal vein.

The vein transports blood from the small intestine to the liver which regulates the amount of
soluble food which enters the circulation.

Objective: Describe the assimilation of amino acids, monosaccharides and fatty acids
and glycerol.

Monosaccharides

Some glucose is distributed around the body and used for respiration.

Excess glucose is stored in the liver and in muscles as glycogen or as fat around organs and
under the skin.

Glycogen is converted to glucose whenever the body requires it. This glucose is then
transported by the blood to the tissues that need it.
Amino Acids

Amino acids are used to build cell protoplasm and to repair damaged tissues.
They are also used to make enzymes, hormones and proteins in the blood such as
fibrinogen which plays an important role in clotting.

Excess amino acids will be toxic if stored in that form, so they are deaminated in the liver.
This means that their amino groups are removed and converted into urea which is transported
by the blood to the kidneys where it is excreted in the urine.

The rest of the molecule can be converted to carbohydrate for use or stored as glycogen or
fat.

Fatty Acids and Glycerol

After absorption, most of the fatty acids and glycerol recombine to form fats which enter the
lacteals of the lymphatic system.

Eventually, the fat enters the bloodstream and is used for cell membrane reformation.

Excess is stored around organs such as the heart, kidneys and under the skin as an energy
reserve.