2.27 Understand the processes of ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and egestion

Ingestion: the act of taking food into the body; eating

Digestion: the process by which food is broken down and nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. Large, insoluble molecules are broken down into smaller, soluble ones.

Absorption: the process by which the soluble molecules are taken from the gut (typically in the small intestine) and transported into the bloodstream for use in the body.

Assimilation: the act of absorbing molecules through the cells in tissues

Egestion: To get rid of as a waste product (undigested food. Not to be confused with excretion)

Figure 1: Part of the digestive system