Absorption (Cambridge International IGCSE Biology)

Absorbing nutrients

Spec point — 7.5.1 · State that the small intestine is the region where nutrients are absorbed

• Absorption is the movement of digested food molecules from the digestive system into the blood (glucose and amino acids) and lymph (fatty acids and glycerol)
• Nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine
• Assimilation is the process where digested food molecules are taken up by cells and used for growth, repair, and energy production

Absorbing water

Spec point — 7.5.2 · State that most water is absorbed from the small intestine but that some is also absorbed from the colon

• Water is absorbed in both the small intestine and the colon, but most absorption of water (around 80%) happens in the small intestine