Final answer:
The small intestine absorbs nutrients into the blood, which are then transported to the liver for decontamination. This organ is where digestion is completed and has a large surface area for efficient nutrient uptake.
Step-by-step explanation:
All nutrients are absorbed into the blood from the small intestine and routed to the liver for decontamination via the hepatic portal vein. In the small intestine, the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates is completed, and chyme from the stomach is further broken down. The liver then regulates the distribution of nutrients to the rest of the body and removes toxic substances.
The majority of fat digestion occurs in the small intestine with the help of bile and digestive enzymes. Bile is produced by the liver and stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. The pancreas produces pancreatic juice, which contains enzymes for the chemical digestion of food.
The correct answer to the student's question is c) Small intestine. This organ is central to the nutrient absorption process, with the villi and microvilli increasing the surface area for efficient nutrient uptake into the bloodstream, and therefore it is where nutrients first enter before being processed by the liver.