How do lipids move through the body so they can be digested and absorbed?
Bile that is produced in the liver and secreted from the gallbladder helps to break down fats into smaller particles. Those smaller particles are broken down by material produced by the pancreas, enzymes. The smaller particles are called micelles add to the absorption of the lipids. After the digested lipids are absorbed; the secreted bile returns to the liver. The production of bile is how lipids move through the body to be digested and absorbed in the small intestine. Lipid that are not absorbed in the small intestine are formed into lipoproteins and transported into the blood stream for various parts of the body. Once this movement begins the lipids are stored throughout the body in different forms; cholesterol and energy to be used immediately and stored for later.
Dang, it’s been a while since my neurophysiology/biology class, but lipids are not digested until after they’re through the stomach. I forgot which organ, but it secretes a lipase that breaks down fat into smaller components called polysaccharides and then into monosaccharides… I forgot exactly what they were called, but they don’t get absorbed until they reach your small intestine I believe. Most of the absorption of food doesn’t occur until it gets to your small intestine. I could be wrong, but there’s my two cents.
