Biology HL

H3
Absorption of digested foods

Longitudinal smooth
muscle

Circular smooth muscle

Mucosa

Lumen

Villi

Fig. 1: Transverse section of the ileum

90% of absorption takes place in the small intestine. The remaining 10% takes place in the
stomach and the large intestine. Villi epithelial cells in the intestinal mucosa have several
adaptations to make absorption more efficient (Fig. 2).

The surface of villi epithelial cells facing the lumen of the small intestine has microvilli. Like the
villi themselves, microvilli are finger-like protrusions whose function is to increase the surface
area for absorption.

Villi epithelial cells will contain large numbers of mitochondria. Mitochondria are the
powerhouses in a cell they produce ATP, usable cellular energy. ATP is required for active
transport only up to 50% of nutrients can ever be absorbed by diffusion alone, which would be
a waste. ATP is also needed for pinocytosis the active uptake of extracellular fluids.

Between villi epithelial cells are membrane-to-membrane seals called tight junctions1, where
the two cell membranes share some membrane proteins. This causes the membranes to be
held so tightly together that most molecules cannot pass between them, into or out of the lumen
of the small intestine. This means that food molecules have a selective barrier that they must
pass through in order to be absorbed into the blood stream, and guarantees that the food
molecules have completed the process of enzymatic digestion.

1 This is in contrast to most cells in the body, which are surrounded by intercellular (interstitial) fluid.

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 Biology HL
H3
Absorption of digested foods

Lumen of small intestine containing digested nutrients

Microvillus

Pinocytotic
vesicle

Tight junction

Mitochondrion

Absorbed nutrients to
capillary or lacteal

Fig. 2: Villi epithelial cells of intestinal mucosa

On electron micrographs of villi epithelial cells, pinocytotic vesicles will be visible. This is
because pinocytosis (active uptake of fluids, so therefore requires ATP) is a method by which
molecules are absorbed from the lumen of the small intestine.

It is worth knowing that villi epithelial cells also contain rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
Rough ER to synthesise proteins, specifically digestive enzymes.
Smooth ER to detoxify organic molecules that are absorbed.

There are also columnar epithelial cells in the small intestine. These secrete mucus and alkaline
fluid to protect the epithelia from mechanical injury and stomach acid respectively.

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 Biology HL
H3
Absorption of digested foods

Food substance Absorption into epithelial cell Subsequent absorption

Active transport: binds to sodium

Into blood capillary facilitated
Glucose ion and is pulled in across a
diffusion
carrier protein (symport)

Active transport: binds to sodium

Into blood capillary facilitated
Amino acids ion and is pulled in across a
diffusion
carrier protein (symport)

Short fatty acids Diffusion (in bile salt micelles) Diffusion

Into lacteal 3 fatty acids plus a

glycerol molecule combine to form a
triglyceride.
Long fatty acids These triglycerides are coated with
Diffusion (in bile salt micelles)
and glycerol protein then combined with
cholesterol and phospholipids to form
water-soluble chylomicrons which
pass into lacteals by exocytosis.

Transport mechanisms across villi

Facilitated diffusion
For molecules small enough to fit through membrane and concentration gradient permits
diffusion, but polarity prevents easy passage through hydrophobic interior of plasma
membrane.
Does not require ATP.
Molecules pass through protein channels in plasma membrane.
Proteins in channels have relatively non-polar amino acids making up outer perimeter of
channel and polar amino acids forming interior of channel.
E.g. fructose.

Active transport
For substances with no marked concentration gradient or transporting substances against
concentration gradient.
Membrane pumps.
Requires ATP, therefore lots of mitochondria required in epithelial cells.

Pinocytosis
Specific example of endocytosis active uptake of extracellular fluids.
Requires ATP.
Very small droplets of fluids in lumen of small intestine are surrounded by epithelial cells
membrane to form pinocytotic vessels.
These vesicles are taken into the cytoplasm of the villus cell, and later the contents of the
vesicle are released into the cytoplasm.
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 Biology HL
H3
Absorption of digested foods

Some materials are not absorbed and are egested. These substances include:

Cellulose.
Lignin.
Bile pigments.
Intestinal cells.
Bacteria.

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