ABSORPTION OF DIGESTED FOOD 1.

The product of digestion glucose, amino acids, glycerol and fatty acids enter the circulatory system easily by diffusion Diffusion : The process by which molecules moves from areas of high concentration, to areas of low concentration. In human digestive system, digested foods at small intestine are absorbed into the bloodstream by diffusion. Small intestine is considered as high concentration of digested food, while bloodstream is considered of low concentration of digested food. So the digested foods move from the small intestine to the bloodstream. 2. Absorption of the end products of digestion takes place in the small intestine

Absorption : The process of liquid , gas or other substance being taken in. In human digestive system, absorption starts after digestion is completed. This is because food consists of a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins and fats which contain complex molecules such as glucose, amino acids, glycerol and fatty acids for easy absorption and they are soluble.

3. The small intestine has the following adaptions for the better absorption.

The inner walls of the small intestine have numerous folds. This increases the surface area for absorption The inner wall of the small intestine are covered with numerous finger-like projections called villi. The villi further increase the surface area of absorption. It is richly supplied with blood capillaries that carry away absorbed food substances The intestinal wall is very thin so that small molecules can enter the blood capillaries The small intestine is long to provide sufficient time for absorption. 4. Once inside the bloodstream, the absorbed nutrients are transported to the liver. 5. From the liver , the nutrients are carried to the heart to be pumped to all parts of the body.

REABSORBTION OF WATER AND DEFECATION

1. 2.

Digestion of food is completed in the small intestine. Not every piece of food that is eaten is completely digested. Sometimes food is taken in excess.

3.

In some cases, a particular type of food may not be digested at all, for example cellulose in fibre.

4.

This undigested food is sent to the large intestine and kept there temporarily.

5.

In the large intestine, the residue from the small intestine undergoes decay and becomes faeces.

6.

The faeces is passed on to the rectum where the faeces is stored before being pushed through an opening called the anus.

7. 8. 9.

The process of removing faeces from the body is called defecation. However , the faeces still contains some water. Being a land organism, humans frequently experience loss of water or suffers from lack of water.

10. One way of conserving water is by reabsorbing the water from the faeces. 11. As the residue passes through the large intestine, a lot of water , together with dissolved minerals and vitamins, is absorbed into the blood.