Life Sciences: Human nutrition (Absorption)

Grade 11
Lesson 28

Presenter: Dr. Grizelda van Wyk

 ABSORPTION
• Digested food is now in a soluble form and ready to be absorbed into the
bloodstream.
• Most absorption takes place in the small intestine because most of the
digestion has taken place by the time the food reaches the small
intestine.
• The food particles in the small intestine are therefore small enough to be
absorbed.
 TYPES OF ABSORPTION

Active absorption requires energy for the nutrient to be

absorbed against a concentration gradient (low to high).

Passive absorption does not require energy because it

moves with the concentration gradient (high to low).
 STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION: SMALL INTESTINES
• The small intestine has a large surface area to absorb nutrients
• The small intestine is approximately 6 m long
• The length of the small intestine ensures that food remains for long
periods, allowing enough time for maximum absorption
STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION OF SMALL INTESTINES

There are transverse folds and millions of villi

(finger-like projections) in the mucosa of the wall
of the small intestine, which increase the
absorption surface considerably.
STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION OF SMALL INTESTINES

• The soluble nutrients are

mainly absorbed through
the villi.

• Each villus contains

microvilli to further
increase the surface area.
 STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION OF VILLI
• The epithelium is only one-cell layer thick allowing nutrients to pass through
quickly.
• Goblet cells secrete mucus to ensure the absorptive surface is moist and to
allow nutrients to be dissolved and then to be absorbed.
 STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION OF VILLI
• The epithelium contains many mitochondria to supply energy for active
absorption of nutrients.
• Microvilli further increase the surface area.
 STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION OF VILLI
• There is a lymph vessel called a lacteal in each villus which absorbs and transports
lipids.
• The villus is richly supplied with blood capillaries to transport glucose and amino
acids.
STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION OF VILLI
 ABSORPTION PROCESS
• Glycerol and fatty acids, the end products of lipid digestion, are
absorbed by diffusion into the lacteals aided by bile salts.
 ABSORPTION PROCESS
• Vitamins – fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) are passively absorbed or
aided by carrier molecules.
• Mineral salts are both actively and passively absorbed into the
capillaries.
• Water is absorbed into the capillaries by osmosis.
 ABSORPTION PROCESS
• Glucose, the end product of carbohydrate digestion, is actively
absorbed, against the concentration gradient, into the blood capillaries
of the villi.
• Amino acids, the end products of protein digestion, are also actively
absorbed, against the concentration gradient, into the blood capillaries.
SUMMARY: ABSORPTION OF END PRODUCTS
Transport of amino acids and glucose
TRANSPORT OF ABSORBED NUTRIENTS
• The remaining glucose and amino acids
leave the liver via the hepatic veins and are
transported in the inferior vena cava to the
heart and to the rest of the body.

• A large portion of glucose is transported to

the tissues (especially muscle tissues),
where it is broken down by cellular
respiration to CO2 and water with the release
of energy.
 TRANSPORT OF ABSORBED NUTRIENTS
Fatty acids and glycerol are absorbed by the lacteals of the villi.

• The lacteals unite and form larger lymphatic vessels that eventually open
into the thoracic duct.

• Thoracic duct is the main channel for lymph. From about the level of the
small of the back it runs up through the body, close in front of the backbone,
to the base of the neck, where it opens into a blood vessel.
TRANSPORT OF ABSORPED NUTRIENTS

Fatty acids and glycerol in the

thoracic duct enter the blood
system at the left subclavian vein
and are transported to the rest of
the body via the heart.
ACTIVITY 1
Which structure is represented here?

Villus

State the main function of the above structure.

Absorption of digested nutrients

 ACTIVITY 1
Explain TWO reasons why this structure is so efficient in its
function.
• Is well supplied with blood vessels and lacteals✓ to transport the
absorbed food nutrients. ✓
• Is moist/ has mucous ✓ to facilitate/ speed up absorption for
better diffusion✓
• Has many micro villi ✓to increase the surface area for food
absorption✓
•Thin✓ columnar epithelium to allow the digested food to be in
close contact with blood. ✓
• Contains many mitochondria ✓ for active absorption ✓ of
nutrients.
ACTIVITY 1
Name TWO substances which are found in higher
concentration in C than in D.

In C- Large amounts of Glucose ✓ and amino acids✓

ACTIVITY 1
Label parts A and E

A – columnar epithelium ✓
E – goblet cell ✓

Briefly explain the function of structure B

Absorbs glycerol and fatty acids ✓

by diffusion aided by bile salts ✓
 ACTIVITY 2
Complete the blank spaces in the table below: :
ANSWERS FOR ACTIVITY 2
THANK YOU