Question

Products of fat digestion are transported initially by _______ because they can't be absorbed directly into the bloodstream:

a) Veins
b) Arterioles
c) Lacteals
d) Interstitial fluid
e) Capillaries

Answer 1

Fat digestion products are initially transported by lacteals, specialized lymphatic capillaries in the small intestine, as fats cannot be absorbed directly into the bloodstream due to their hydrophobic nature.

Step-by-step explanation:

The products of fat digestion are transported initially by lacteals because fats are hydrophobic (water repelling) and cannot be absorbed directly into the bloodstream which is water-based. In the small intestine, dietary fats are emulsified into micelles, and after absorption, they diffuse across the cell membrane of enterocytes. Once inside, fats are reassembled into triglycerides and packaged into chylomicrons which enter the lacteals. The lacteals are specialized lymphatic capillaries located in the villi of the small intestine. These chylomicrons are then transported via the lymphatic system and eventually released into the bloodstream.