Question

Answer in detail.
What happens to the nutrients absorbed in the bloodstream from the small intestine?

Answer 1

The villi of the small intestine increase the inner surface area for the absorption of digested food. Villi contain blood capillaries, The digested food passes through these blood capillaries and enters the bloodstream. This process is called absorption. All the absorbed nutrients are not required immediately by the body. So they are changed into various forms that can be stored until they are needed. This process is called assimilation.

1. Glucose is converted into glycogen and is stored in the liver. When it is required by the liver glycogen is converted into glucose. Excess of glucose is also converted in to fat and stored in the adipose tissue. Fatty acids either provide energy or are used for the synthesis of fats which is stored under the skin.
2. Amino acids are used for the synthesis of protein. Excess amount of amino acids are converted into urea which is removed by the kidneys.

glucose \[\ce{->[liver]}\] glycogen

Amino acids →Proteins
Amino acids → urea