Nutrients are Absorbed Mainly by the _______

Question

Nutrients are absorbed mainly by the _______.
A) rugae in the stomach
B) lacteals in the colon
C) intestinal villi
D) common bile duct

Accepted Answer

The intestinal villi of the small intestine are responsible for absorbing nutrients from the digested food. The villi increase the surface area available for absorption and contain blood vessels and lacteals (lymphatic vessels) that transport absorbed nutrients to the rest of the body. The rugae in the stomach simply increase its capacity, the lacteals in the colon are only involved in the absorption of fats and the common bile duct carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, but does not absorb nutrients.