We eat food composed of all the nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. After digestion, these are absorbed in the form of glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol etc.

What mechanisms are involved in absorption of digested food and water?

Digested food is absorbed in the intestinal cells by the following process:

(i) Glucose and amino acids -Active transport.


(ii) Fatty acids and glycerol – Diffusion (Passive transport)


(iii) Water – Osmosis.
The digestion process is shown below:
Digestion Diagram



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