Final answer:
The majority of fat digestion takes place in the small intestine, with bile emulsifying the fats and pancreatic lipase breaking them down before being absorbed through the villi and microvilli of the intestine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The majority of fat digestion occurs in the small intestine. The process begins in the stomach, where the fats are mixed and broken down slightly. When the chyme (a mixture of partially digested food) enters the small intestine, bile produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder is secreted, which emulsifies the fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets. This emulsification increases the surface area of the fat, making it easier for enzymes like pancreatic lipase, which is produced by the pancreas, to further break down the fats. Once fats are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol, they are absorbed by the intestinal walls. The inner surface of the small intestine is lined with villi and microvilli, significantly increasing the area for absorption. The absorbed fats are transported to the liver via the hepatic portal vein, where they are processed before being distributed throughout the body.