The movement of small organic molecules, electrolytes, vitamins, and water across the digestive epithelium and into the intestinal fluid of the digestive tract is called what then? I can understand if going into the interstitial fluid of the digestive tract that it would be called Absorption; however, what is it called when it moves into the intestinal fluid of the digestive tract?

As you have learned, the process of mechanical digestion is relatively simple. It involves the physical breakdown of food but does not alter its chemical makeup. Chemical digestion, on the other hand, is a complex process that reduces food into its chemical building blocks, which are then absorbed to nourish the cells of the body. In this section, you will look more closely at the processes of chemical digestion and absorption.

This diagram identifies the functions of mechanical and chemical digestion and absorption at each organ. Next to each organ, a callout identifies which steps of digestion take place in that particular organ.

Explanation:

straight fertilizers

carbon atoms, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.