Question
Biology Question on Digestion and absorption
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Fatty acids and glycerols cannot be absorbed into blood.
Statement II: Specialized lymphatic capillaries called lacteals carry chylomicrons into lymphatic vessels and ultimately into the blood.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Both statement I and Statement II are correct
Both statement I and Statement II are incorrect
Statement I is correct but statement II is incorrect
Statement I is incorrect but statement II is correct
Both statement I and Statement II are correct
Solution
Both the statements are correct. Fatty acids and glycerol are insoluble, hence cannot be absorbed into the blood. They are first incorporated into small droplets called micelles which move into the intestinal mucosa. They are re-formed into very small protein coated fat globules called the chylomicrons which are transported into the lymph vessels (lacteals) in the villi. These lymph vessels ultimately release the absorbed substances into the bloodstream.