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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System II: Digestion and Absorption01:22

Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System II: Digestion and Absorption

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The gastrointestinal (GI) tract, extending from the mouth to the anus, plays a pivotal role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. This process involves both mechanical and chemical actions facilitated by various enzymes.
Digestion begins in the mouth, where food undergoes mechanical breakdown by chewing and combines with saliva. Salivary amylase, an enzyme in saliva, starts the breakdown of starches into maltose. The food then travels down the esophagus to the stomach.
In the stomach, a...
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What is Monogastric Digestion?01:50

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The human body contains a monogastric digestive system. In a monogastric digestive system, the stomach only contains one chamber in which it digests food. Several other animal species also have monogastric digestive systems, including pigs, horses, dogs, and birds. This chapter, however, focuses on the human digestive system.
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Carbohydrate Digestion00:57

Carbohydrate Digestion

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Carbohydrate digestion and metabolism break down simple and complex carbohydrates from food into saccharides (i.e., sugars) for the body to use as energy. Carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth during mastication, or chewing. The masticated carbohydrates remain intact in the stomach. Digestion resumes in the duodenum of the small intestine, where pancreatic alpha-amylase and brush border enzymes of the microvilli convert complex carbohydrates to monosaccharides. Finally, the monosaccharides...
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Lipid Digestion01:06

Lipid Digestion

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Lipids are large molecules that are generally not water-soluble. Since most of the digestive enzymes in the human body are water-based, there are specific steps the body must take to break down lipids and make them available for use.
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Protein Digestion01:02

Protein Digestion

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Protein digestion begins in the stomach, where the highly acidic environment can easily disrupt protein structure by exposing the peptide bonds of polypeptide chains. After polypeptide chains are broken into individual amino acids by a series of digestive enzymes, the amino acids are transported to the liver via the bloodstream to produce energy.
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Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption01:19

Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption

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The process of oral drug absorption can be influenced by several factors. Weakly acidic drugs tend to be absorbed more readily from the stomach due to their nonionized state. However, absorption may be less efficient in the upper intestine, where drugs are often ionized. Interestingly, despite the stomach's apparent advantage for drug absorption, its mucous layer can hinder diffusion. Its surface area is also smaller than the intestine's, which can further slow down the absorption rate.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

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Macronutrient Digestion and Absorption in the Preterm Infant.

Marta Rogido1,2,3, Ian Griffin1,2,3

  • 1Goryeb Children's Hospital, Morristown, NJ.

Neoreviews
|July 2, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Newborn infants efficiently digest nutrients despite immature pancreatic function. Human milk enzymes and a unique gut microbiome aid macronutrient absorption in preterm infants.

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Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Gastrointestinal physiology
  • Microbiome research

Background:

  • Fetal nutrition relies on amniotic fluid.
  • Preterm infants demonstrate functional macronutrient absorption postnatally.
  • Pancreatic function is immature in newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms supporting macronutrient digestion and absorption in preterm infants.
  • To identify adaptations that compensate for poor pancreatic function in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on neonatal digestion.
  • Analysis of digestive enzyme profiles in human milk.
  • Examination of the role of the neonatal gut microbiome.

Main Results:

  • Human milk contains specific digestive enzymes beneficial for infants.
  • Novel enzymes aiding fat and protein digestion are present in newborns.
  • A Bifidobacterium-rich microbiome assists in scavenging unabsorbed nutrients.

Conclusions:

  • Newborns possess unique mechanisms for nutrient absorption.
  • These mechanisms, including milk enzymes and the microbiome, compensate for immature pancreatic function.
  • These adaptations are crucial for optimal growth and development in preterm infants.