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1 vote
The breakdown of food into molecules small enough to enter the bloodstream is primarily accomplished by the _____.

stomach
small intestine
large intestine
liver

2 Answers

6 votes

Answer:

small intestine.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Rangalo
by
8.8k points
3 votes

Answer:

The correct answer would be a small intestine.

The small intestine is the principal organ of digestion as well as absorption.

Events take place in the small intestine:

  • Intestinal enzymes such as maltase, lactase, sucrase et cetera digest disaccharides to their respective monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, galactose.
  • Dipeptides are digested to amino acids.
  • Intestinal lipases convert di and triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerols.
  • Lastly, nucleotide and nucleoside are converted their respective sugars and bases.
  • The digested food is then absorbed with the help of diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.
  • The mucosa layer of small intestine consists of finger-like projections called villi and microvilli.
  • They increase the surface area of the small intestine and help in absorbing the digested food.
  • They then transport the absorbed materials to the bloodstream through capillaries and lymphatic vessels lying close to their surface.
User Jimadine
by
7.6k points
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