TOPIC 7: Human Nutrition

Absorption
Explain the role of the gall bladder in the
digestion of fats.
(2 marks)

The answer must include:

production of bile (1)
which emulsifies fats (1)

Learning Objectives
To recall adaptation of villi
To explain how the structure of the villi
allows efficient absorption of the
soluble products of digestion

Key Question Discussion

3 Min
utes

1. Why do we have a small intestine?

2. What does it do?
3. How does soluble food get from the
small intestine into our blood?

Absorption

Key Words
Enzymes

Digestion

5 Min
utes

Key Point Copy and Complete

Food is broken down into Soluble

forms by
Enzymes
. Digested food molecules are
Small to pass freely through the
enough
ofWalls
the small intestine. Most water is
Small intestine.
absorbed in the _______
Small

Soluble Walls Enzymes

EXTENSION

In your opinion, where does the most

important part of digestion take place.

10 M
inute
s

Paired Research Collection

In pairs, label yourselves A and B

Person A you need to collect information about:

Villi Structure
Adaptation 1

Person B you need to collection information about:

Adaptation 2
Adaptation 3

Fill in your table and then share the information with

your partner and fill in the other half of your sheet

Structure of the Small Intestine

Small Intestine
Small, soluble food molecules are
absorbed through the wall of the small
intestine
To absorb food molecules efficiently
the small intestine has three main
adaptations.

1. A Large Surface Area

The small intestine is very long
-6m long
The inner surface on the intestine is folded
-covered with many finger-like projections
called villi
-greatly increase the surface area in contact
with digested food

2. Thin Wall
Each villus has an
extremely
thin wall
-only one cell thick
-rapid absorption

3. Good Blood Supply

Each villus is supplied with blood vessels
to receive the absorbed foods
-glucose/amino acids/vitamins/minerals
are absorbed into blood capillaries
-products of fat digestion absorbed into
lacteal

Large Intestine
The small intestine absorbs food once
digested
What passes into the large intestine?
-water
-waste material
Large intestine
-2m long
-tubing is wider than small intestine

What does it do?

Absorbs water which is passed onto the
bloodstream
Remaining material passed on into the
rectum where it is removed from the
body as faeces

Kahoot IGCSE NUTRITION IN

HUMANS

Colour me a villus!
Colour in and label your cut-out of a villus using the words below:
Thin epithelium (yellow)
Artery (red)
Vein (blue)
Blood capillary (red turning to blue)
Lacteal (green)
Lymphatic vessel (green)

Thin
epithelium

Artery
Vein
Lymphatic vessel

Mini Plenary

3 Min
utes

1. Villi have a small surface area

2. Diffusion occurs at a faster rate when
there is a smaller surface area
3. Some villi have a good network of blood
capillaries
4. There is only a single layer of cells
between the contents of the small
intestine and the blood vessels of the
villi
5. There is a short diffusion pathway for
soluble food molecules

T
T

2M
in u
t es

Spot the Difference

ld
u
co ke
y
a
h
W is m liac
th coe ?
a hin
t

Coeliac small intestine

Some villi are lost, so the
individual cannot absorb the
products of digestion properly