Final answer:
The step that does not play a role in lipid digestion and absorption is 'being split into fatty acids and monoglycerides', as this is in fact a necessary step in the process. The actual components involved in lipid absorption include emulsification by bile salts, micelle formation, cell surface receptors on villi cells, and transport by lacteals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process that does not play a role in lipid digestion and absorption is being split into fatty acids and monoglycerides (option c). This is actually a step in the digestion and absorption of lipids, so it is essential, rather than extraneous. Lipid absorption is a complex process that involves:
- Emulsification by bile salts (option b).
- Micelle formation (option e) which aids in ferrying lipids to the microvilli.
- Cell surface receptors or transporters on villi cells (option a) to absorb digested lipids.
- Transport of lipids away from the intestines by lacteals (option d).
Micelles, composed of bile salts and lipids such as fatty acids and monoglycerides, facilitate absorption by allowing these nonpolar substances to come into contact with the absorptive surfaces of the epithelial cells. This is essential because the large and hydrophobic characteristics of these molecules make them insoluble in the watery intestinal environment without the formation of micelles.