Describe the structure of the

villus in small intestines and its

role.

Describe the role of capillaries
and lacteals in absorption.
Station 1 (15 mins):
Experiment on Absorption of
Digested Food

Station 2 (15 mins):
Tablet PC
& Case Study


Doc, I have recently
gotten back my blood
test. The results show
that I have been
diagnosed with
coeliac disease.



Coeliac disease is a a
digestive disease that
damages the villi in the
small intestines.



Surface area to
volume ratio for
absorption will
decrease.
Lack of nutrients
will be taken into
the body
Weight
loss?
May suffer from
deficiencies in
iron, vitamins
and other
nutrients.
Easily
tired?
Osteoporosis
?
Adaptions of Villi in Small Intestines
Villi provide efficient absorption surface by
having:

(1) rich supply of blood capillaries
(transporting amino acids, simple sugars,
vitamins, mineral salts) and lymphatic
capillaries (fats & fat-soluble vitamins).



2) thin membrane of
epithelium. ( 1 cell thick )


3) moist and large surface
area of villi bearing
numerous microvilli.


4) continual transport of
digested substances help
to maintain
diffusion gradient for
absorption.


Nutrients are taken into the
body cells by diffusing into the
blood capillaries in villi and
circulated via the bloodstream
to other parts of the body.




Absorption of glucose
and amino acids:
Read up your textbook
page 105 108 on the
function of liver.


Assimilation:
Transport and utilization of
nutrients.

Nutrients are transported
to liver through hepatic
portal vein for processing,
storage and distribution to
other body parts.



Small Intestines Hepatic Portal Vein Liver
Liver functions in Digestion &
Assimilation
Production of bile.
Food Storage:
(i) Regulate blood glucose concentration:
Glucose (after meal): Store glycogen with the
help of hormone insulin released from
pancreas.
Glucose (starving): Convert glycogen back to
glucose.
(ii) Vitamins(A, B, D), minerals copper and
potassium, as well as iron to make red blood
cells.
Heat Production by liver is carried
around body to keep warm.

Chemical Factory:
(i) Detoxification of harmful substances
(alcohol, medications, micro-organisms,
fats) absorbed into blood stream from
gut.
(ii) Synthesis of proteins ( e.g fibrinogen for
clotting blood, albumins)
(iii) Deamination of excess amino acids form
to be excreted as urea.


Which of these diagrams
represent a healthy liver?

What are the consequences of
a fatty liver?

Ans: Liver is not able to filter
and cleanse the blood stream
efficiently and the blood
stream will become overloaded
with toxins and fat.
What happened to the excess amino acids
in our body?

Excess A.A
Ammonia Carbohydrate
Urea
Deamination by liver
+ CO
2
Glycogen
stored as
EXCRETION
Ans:________________________________