Question

Plant materials, such as fruits and vegetables, are difficult to digest because they are difficult to break down. How are humans able to obtain nutrients from fruits and vegetables?

a) Through fermentation in the colon
b) Through mechanical breakdown in the mouth
c) Through absorption in the stomach
d) Through filtration in the kidneys

Answer 1

Humans obtain nutrients from fruits and vegetables through the digestion and absorption process, mainly occurring in the small intestine after mechanical and chemical digestion.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Nutrient Absorption from Fruits and Vegetables

Humans are able to obtain nutrients from fruits and vegetables through a process known as digestion and absorption. This involves both mechanical and chemical digestion. In the mouth, mechanical breakdown of food occurs through chewing, which makes the plant materials easier to digest chemically later on. Chemical digestion begins with saliva in the mouth and continues in the stomach where enzymes further break down the food into smaller molecules.

However, the most significant absorption of nutrients occurs in the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed by digestive epithelial cells and enter the bloodstream. Some fibrous plant materials, like cellulose, are not digestible by our enzymes. Instead, these fibers are partially broken down by bacteria in the large intestine, which can be beneficial to digestive health. Lastly, undigested food moves to the colon, aided by peristalsis, and waste is eventually eliminated.