Question

Why can it be said that absorption is the reason for digestion?

A. Even though digestion includes the processes of mechanical and chemical breakdown of ingested food, the optimum goal of digestion is to absorb nutrients.
B. The absorption process facilitates the emulsification of fats by breaking large fat drops into small droplets.
C. Absorption involves the grinding action of the teeth and the mechanical mixing of food as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract, thus allowing regulation of digestion.
D. Fluid balance, maintenance of core body temperature, numerous circadian rhythms, and regulation of pH and metabolic rates are included as parts of the absorption process.

Answer 1

Absorption is considered the reason for digestion because the entire digestive process aims to break down food into nutrient molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and used by the body's cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

Why can it be said that absorption is the reason for digestion? The correct answer is A. Even though digestion includes the processes of mechanical and chemical breakdown of ingested food, the ultimate goal of digestion is to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream where they can be used by cells throughout the body. Mechanical digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and continues in the stomach, but it simply breaks down food into smaller pieces without changing its chemical composition. Chemical digestion, on the other hand, uses enzymes to break down large food molecules into small nutrient molecules. Absorption occurs primarily in the small intestine and allows these nutrient molecules to enter the bloodstream and reach the cells of the body where they are needed for energy, growth, and repair.