Texas FFA Livestock Judging PracticeTest

What is the term used for the process of taking food nutrients through the intestinal wall?

1. Metabolism

2. Assimilation

3. Absorption

4. Digestion

The correct answer is: Absorption

The term that describes the process of taking food nutrients through the intestinal wall is absorption. This process is crucial as it involves the transfer of digested nutrients, such as amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids, from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream. Absorption occurs primarily in the small intestine, where nutrients pass through the intestinal lining into the circulatory system, allowing the body to utilize these essential nutrients for energy, growth, and repair. This process is distinct from digestion, which refers to the breakdown of food into its component nutrients, and assimilation, which involves using the absorbed nutrients by the body. Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions in the body, including both absorption and assimilation, but specifically refers to the conversion of nutrients into energy and the utilization of those nutrients in physiological functions.