Chapter 3

3.4 Process of absorption and

transportation of digested food and
defecation
 Let’s recall
CLASS OF FOOD END PRODUCTS
CARBOHYDRATES GLUCOSE
PROTEINS AMINO ACID
FATTY ACID +
FATS
GLYCEROL
 Amazing Facts of Small Intestine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKCMpGAWwCE&lis
t=PLQ7A4rXTlgfx6B_y61KFDdO_b4H2Am4El&index=13
Inner wall of small intestine
Model showing inner wall of small intestine
 Absorption of digested food
The inner wall of the small intestine has millions of
fine finger-like projections called villi.
(singular: villus)
This increases the surface area for the processes of
absorption of digested food.
Digested food which exist as tiny molecules (glucose,
amino acids, fatty acids and glycerol), minerals and
vitamins are able to absorb through the walls of
the villi into the blood circulatory system.
 How does the small intestine
increases its efficiency in the
absorption of digested food?
• The surface of the small intestine has many
folds to add to the surface area and increase
the absorption rate of digested food.
• The wall of the villus is very thin (one cell
thick) to increase the rate of absorption.
• There are blood vessels in the small intestine
to help in the transporting of nutrients to all
parts of the body.
Small sized nutrients
that can go through Structure of villus
the wall of the small
intestine are
absorbed into the
blood
 Process of transporting the products of
digestion
• Digested food (nutrients) which is absorbed
into villus is being transported throughout the
body through our blood circulatory system.
• When the nutrients reach the body cells, they
will undergo assimilation.
 What is assimilation?
• It is a process of distributing the end products
of digestion for the use of the cells in our
body.
 How does our body uses the end
products of digestion?
• Glucose is used to produce energy.
• Amino acid is used to form component of
cells.
• Fatty acids and glycerol combine to form fat
which is used as heat insulator and to protect
internal organs.
Systems involved in digestion, transportation
and assimilation of digested food
• Digestive system: Digestion and absorption
• Blood circulatory system: Transportation of
digested food (nutrients)
• In the cells: Assimilation of digested food
• Formation of new cells
• Respiration
• Regulation of body temperature
Large intestine
 Defecation
• Undigested food and food that is not absorbed by our small
intestine such as dietary fibre, waste secretions of the
digestive tract, dead cells and water will move into the
large intestine.
• While moving along the large intestine, water and minerals
are reabsorbed into the blood stream. This will make the
unabsorbed and undigested food to become solid waste
called feaces.
• Faeces are stored temporarily in the rectum before being
pushed through the anus.
• The process of removing faeces from the body is called
defecation.