Assimilation Of Digested Food

ASSIMILATION OF DIGESTED FOOD

LOCATION • Assimilation takes place in the cells (digestion takes place in the alimentary canal) • Simpler form of nutrient is used to form complex compounds or structural components • Liver acts as checkpoint and control centre for the release of appropriate amount of nutrients in the circulatory system.

ASSIMILATION OF GLUCOSE • Most of glucose is converted into glycogen and stored in the liver. • Glycogen will be converted to sugar when the body needs energy • Glucose is distributed throughout the body by circulatory system. • Cells oxidise glucose to release energy during cellular respiration.

ASSIMILATION OF GLUCOSE • Excess of glucose is converted into lipids by the liver.

ASSIMILATION OF AMINO ACIDS • Amino acids have to pass through the liver before they reach blood circulatory system • Amino acids are used to synthesized plasma proteins. • Function of plasma proteins: blood clotting and osmoregulation • When there are short supply of glucose, amino acids are converted to glucose by the liver through gluconeogenesis process.

ASSIMILATION OF AMINO ACIDS • Amino acids that enter the cell are used for synthesizing protoplasm and repair the damaged tissue. • Amino acids are also important blocks to synthesis hormones and enzymes. • Excess of amino acids will be broken by deamination process. The waste product of this process is commonly the urea. • Urea is transported to the kidneys and secreted out through urine.

LIPIDS • Lipids such as fats represent the major energy store of the body • Excess lipids are stored in the adipose tissue. • Some lipids; ex: phospholipids and cholesterol are major components of plasma membranes

OTHER FUNCTION OF LIVER • Liver acts as the detoxicification site • In this process, the liver removes harmful substances from blood and convert them to less toxidic compounds. • The detoxicification products are eliminated from the body through bile or urine.