The process in which digested food can move into the blood vessels of the intestinal wall is called _________. ?

Appeared in: UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Explanation

Absorption is the specific process where digested nutrients move from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract into the blood or lymph.
This primarily occurs in the small intestine, which has a large surface area due to structures called villi and microvilli, facilitating efficient nutrient uptake.
Water-soluble nutrients (like glucose and amino acids) enter the blood capillaries, while fat-soluble nutrients enter the lymphatic lacteals.
This process is distinct from digestion (breakdown), assimilation (cellular use), and egestion (waste removal).

Option A: Assimilation is the process by which cells utilize the nutrients that have already been absorbed into the bloodstream. It is a step that follows absorption.
Option B: Egestion is the elimination of undigested waste products (feces) from the body. It is the final stage of the digestive process and does not involve nutrient uptake.
Option C: Digestion is the process of breaking down large, complex food molecules into smaller, simpler ones that can be absorbed. It happens before absorption.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Physiology of the Digestive System helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding absorption is fundamental for nurses to manage patients with malabsorption syndromes like celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or short bowel syndrome.
Nurses monitor for signs of malabsorption, such as weight loss, diarrhea, steatorrhea (fatty stools), and nutrient deficiencies, and administer nutritional support as ordered.
What if? If a patient has a significant portion of their small intestine surgically removed, their capacity for nutrient absorption would be severely diminished. This would likely lead to malnutrition, requiring long-term parenteral nutrition (intravenous feeding) to bypass the gut and provide essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key process described in the question stem: the movement of 'digested food' into 'blood vessels' of the 'intestinal wall'.
Next, recall the major stages of nutrition: ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion.
Define each of the options in your mind. Digestion is breakdown. Absorption is uptake into blood. Assimilation is use by cells. Egestion is waste removal.
Compare the process described in the stem with your definitions. The movement from the intestine to the blood directly matches the definition of absorption.
Eliminate the other options by confirming they describe different stages of the overall nutritional process.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 5 p. 182-184

E6 Physiology Ganong 27e Vol 2 Part 1 p. 23-25

Practise the full UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.