Assimilation and Transport of Absorbed Food

Vocabulary flashcards covering human assimilation and the transport pathways of absorbed water-soluble and lipid-soluble food molecules.

Assimilation

The uptake and use of absorbed food molecules by cells for metabolism.

Hepatic portal vein

The blood vessel that carries water-soluble food molecules absorbed into the capillaries of the villi to the liver.

Hepatic vein

The blood vessel that carries processed food molecules away from the liver to the vena cava.

Vena cava

The largest vein in the body, which brings blood containing food molecules to the heart.

Aorta

The largest artery/vessel through which food molecules are transported from the heart to other parts of the body.

Water-soluble food molecules

Molecules such as monosaccharides, amino acids, minerals, and water-soluble vitamins that are absorbed into the capillaries of the villi.

Lipids and lipid-soluble food molecules

Molecules such as lipid-soluble vitamins that are absorbed into the lacteals of the villi and carried by lymph to the main lymph vessel.

Main lymph vessel

The vessel carrying lipids and lipid-soluble food molecules from the lacteals that enters the blood near the neck region where it joins a blood vessel.