Final answer:
Digested food is absorbed through the epithelium of the small intestine into the bloodstream via a process known as absorption, involving villi and microvilli to increase surface area and efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Third, via absorption, digested food passes through the lining cells or epithelium of the small intestine into the bloodstream. The small intestine is crucial for the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Nutrients enter the bloodstream through the epithelial cells that make up the mucosal lining of the small intestine.
The villi and microscopic microvilli increase the surface area for absorption, ensuring that nutrients from digested food are efficiently absorbed. Lipids are absorbed into the lacteals and then transported to the bloodstream.
This passage is essential for the distribution of nutrients to the rest of the body, ultimately supporting the functions of various organs and systems.