Final answer:
The human intestinal tract absorbs approximately 8.9 liters of fluid daily, with 90 percent absorbed in the small intestine and the remaining absorbed in the large intestine, facilitating the conversion of chyme into semisolid feces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The human intestinal tract absorbs a significant amount of liquid each day. About nine liters of fluid enter the small intestine daily, largely composed of 2.3 liters from foods and beverages, with the rest from gastrointestinal (GI) secretions. Approximately 90 percent of this water is absorbed in the small intestine. The remaining water, after absorption in the small intestine, proceeds to the large intestine, where most of the residual water is absorbed. This absorption process is crucial for converting the liquid chyme residue into semisolid feces. Eventually, of the 500 mL of food residue that enters the cecum, about 150 mL become feces. Therefore, while daily fluid absorption varies, the intestine typically reabsorbs around 8.9 liters, considering the continuous excretion and reabsorption of water in the form of digestive juices.