Question

Salts and water is absorbed in _____
A. Blood
B. Large intestine
C. Both A and B
D. Insufficient Data

Answer 1

The process of absorption of food can occur either actively or passively. Passive absorption occurs through physical processes like simple diffusion, osmosis and facilitated diffusion. Active absorption occurs either by active transport or by endocytosis.

Complete answer: Absorption of the digested products is a process by which the diffusible nutrients are transferred from the gut into the blood or lymph by physico-chemical processes and active transport. Absorbed food is transported either directly to the liver through hepatic portal system or through lymphatic channel it is drained into the subclavian veins via thoracic duct.
Absorption of only certain drugs occurs in the buccal cavity and very little absorption takes place in the stomach, e.g., alcohol, some water and drugs like aspirin are absorbed. Major absorption occurs in the small intestine and it is adapted to ensure complete absorption.
So basically, certain drugs are absorbed into the blood capillaries lining the mucosa of the mouth on coming in contact with them and the lower side of the tongue. Absorption of water and simple sugars and alcohol takes place through the stomach. The principal organ for absorption is the small intestine where the digestion gets completed. The final products of digestion are absorbed through mucosa into the bloodstream and lymph. These include glucose, fatty acids, fructose, glycerol and amino acids.
The absorption of water, some minerals and salts and some drugs takes place in the large intestine.

So, the correct answer is B. Large intestine.

Note: These substances after absorption reach the tissue finally where these are utilized for various activities. This process is known as assimilation and is the process by which simple nutrients are utilized to resynthesize the complex biomolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, etc. in the cells. Thus it is an anabolic process.