Question

How do fats get digested in human beings?

Answer 1

The goal of fat digestion is to break down large fat globules into fatty acids and glycerol. This happens entirely in the small intestine in two steps:

• Emulsification: Because fats enter as large, stubborn globules, the liver secretes bile salts (stored in the gallbladder). Bile acts like soap, physically breaking these large fat masses into tiny, manageable droplets.
• Chemical Breakdown: Once the fats are broken into tiny droplets, the pancreas releases an enzyme called lipase. Lipase chemically digests these droplets, converting them into their final absorbable form: fatty acids and glycerol.