Question

The breakdown of food into molecules small enough to enter the bloodstream is primarily accomplished by the _____.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer would be a small intestine.

The small intestine is the principal organ of digestion as well as absorption.

Events take place in the small intestine:

• Intestinal enzymes such as maltase, lactase, sucrase et cetera digest disaccharides to their respective monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, galactose.
• Dipeptides are digested to amino acids.
• Intestinal lipases convert di and triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerols.
• Lastly, nucleotide and nucleoside are converted their respective sugars and bases.
• The digested food is then absorbed with the help of diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.
• The mucosa layer of small intestine consists of finger-like projections called villi and microvilli.
• They increase the surface area of the small intestine and help in absorbing the digested food.  
• They then transport the absorbed materials to the bloodstream through capillaries and lymphatic vessels lying close to their surface.

Answer 2

Answer:

small intestine.

Explanation: