Final answer:
The product of lipid digestion is fatty acids. Bile aids in emulsifying lipids for enzyme access, and micelles facilitate their absorption in the small intestine. Option D is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the products of the chemical digestion of lipids is d. fatty acids. This process occurs in the small intestine, where bile produced by the liver emulsifies large lipid globules into smaller ones, enabling the enzyme lipase to break them down. The end products of this lipid digestion include monoglycerides, diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, and glycerol.
The role of bile salts in digestion is not just limited to emulsification; they also form structures called micelles. Micelles enhance the absorption of lipids by facilitating the transit of the hydrophobic fatty acids and monoglycerides through the aqueous environment of the intestinal chyme to the microvilli of enterocytes. Inside the enterocytes, these molecules are then reassembled into triglycerides.
Breaking down food at a cellular level is essential because large molecules like lipids need to be converted into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and utilized by the body. This breakdown allows for nutrients to enter the bloodstream and be transported to cells, where they are used for energy, growth, repair, and other vital functions.