What is the function of digestive enzymes ?How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food ?
Solution:
Digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, pepsin, trypsin, etc. help in the breaking down of complex food particles into simple ones. These simple particles can be easily absorbed by the blood and thus transported to all the cells of the body.
The small intestine has millions of tiny finger-like projections called villi. These villi increase the surface area for more efficient food absorption. Within these villi, many blood vessels are present that absorb the digested food and carry it to the blood stream. From the bloodstream, the absorbed food is delivered to each and every cell of the body.
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Enlarged view of a villus