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What vessels absorb fatty acids from the small intestine?

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Final answer:

Lacteals, which are specialized lymphatic capillaries in the small intestine, absorb fatty acids and transport them as chylomicrons through the lymphatic system to the bloodstream.

Step-by-step explanation:

Vessels called lacteals in the villi lining the small intestine are the primary structures responsible for the absorption of fatty acids from digestion. Once the dietary fats have been emulsified by bile salts into micelles, they are transported to the enterocytes of the small intestines. These fats are then reassembled into triglycerides and incorporated with other lipids and proteins to form chylomicrons. The chylomicrons enter lacteals, which are specialized lymphatic capillaries crucial for transporting dietary lipids and lipid-soluble vitamins. They form a milky fluid known as chyle, which then travels through the lymphatic system and eventually makes its way into the bloodstream.

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