Nutrition in Humans:

Lesson 6
Absorption
 BIG IDEA…

Concept: Relationships
Everything is related in some way; structure is related
to function.

How does the structure of the small intestine help it

to perform its function of absorption?
Absorption

The small intestine is

the site of
absorption of the
products of
digestion.
Inside the small intestine

• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO2dEZShg9
s
(from 0:44 onwards)

• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V6VsNkGfT
Q
Recall…

• How are substances are transported

across membranes?
• What processes do you think are involved
in transporting the substances present in
the intestine after the process of
digestion?
• What factors affect the rate of transport
across membranes?
 Absorption

How are nutrients absorbed in the

small and large intestines?
• By diffusion:
– Glucose and amino acids diffuse into the blood
capillaries.
– Glycerol and fatty acids diffuse into the epithelium,
and combine to form minute fat globules which enter
the lymphatic capillary.

• By active transport:
– Glucose and amino acids are absorbed by active
transport.
Absorption

The rate of absorption in the small intestine

depends on the following factors:
– surface area
– thickness of separating membrane
– concentration gradient

The completion of absorption in the small

intestine depends on the following:

- Long length of the small intestine

 Absorption

How is the small intestine adapted for

absorption?
• The surface area to volume ratio is increased
for a greater rate of absorption.
The surface area is
increased by the Microvilli in the
numerous folds in epithelium of
its inner wall. villi increase
surface area.

Villi in the inner walls

increase surface area.
 Absorption
How is the small intestine adapted for
absorption?

• The thin, one-cell thick epithelium of the villi

increases the speed of transport of nutrients into
the bloodstream

• A rich supply of blood and lymphatic capillaries

is present to help carry away absorbed nutrients
quickly, hence maintaining a steep concentration
gradient

• The long length of the small intestine (~ 6 m)

allows sufficient time for absorption.
 Absorption

How is the small intestine adapted for

absorption?

Lacteal/lymphatic
capillary helps to
transport fats to the
Blood capillaries
body.
network help to
transport amino
acids and glucose to
the body.
 Absorption

What happens to the undigested and

unabsorbed matter?

• They are stored temporarily in the rectum and

discharged as faeces through the anus.

• The discharging of faeces from the body is

known as egestion.
 Discuss…

What will be the effect on absorption if:

• the length of the small intestine is shorter?

• active transport is not able to occur in the

epithelium?
 After absorption…

Next Lesson:

What happens to the molecules that have been

absorbed into the blood and lymph?