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Lesson 1 of 17

Digestion, absorption and egestion

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4 min

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Two idlis and sambar. What does the body do with the meal?

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The idea

The body breaks the meal down. Then the simple parts enter the blood.

Food has big parts: carbohydrate, protein and fat. Big parts cannot pass into the blood. So the body must break them into simple forms first. This happens in a long tube called the alimentary canal. It runs from the mouth to the anus. The anus is where waste leaves.

Three steps of nutrition
StepWhat happens
DigestionBig food parts break into simple forms
AbsorptionSimple food passes into the blood
EgestionUndigested food leaves the body
A meal is eaten.
Step 1 of 4
  1. A meal is eaten.
  2. Digestion: big parts break into simple forms.
  3. Absorption: simple food passes into the blood.
  4. Egestion: undigested food leaves.

Digestion breaks food into simple forms. Absorption moves them into the blood. Egestion removes what is left.

Try the lab to finish this lesson.