ASSIMILATION OF ASSIMILATION OF DIGESTED FOODDIGESTED FOODASSIMILATION OF ASSIMILATION OF DIGESTED FOODDIGESTED FOOD

LOCATION• Assimilation takes place in the cells

(digestion takes place in the alimentary canal)

• Simpler form of nutrient is used to form complex compounds or structural components

• Liver acts as checkpoint and control centre for the release of appropriate amount of nutrients in the circulatory system.

ASSIMILATION OF GLUCOSE

• Most of glucose is converted into glycogen and stored in the liver.

• Glycogen will be converted to sugar when the body needs energy

• Glucose is distributed throughout the body by circulatory system.

• Cells oxidise glucose to release energy during cellular respiration.

ASSIMILATION OF GLUCOSE

• Excess of glucose is converted into lipids by the liver.

ASSIMILATION OF AMINO ACIDS

• Amino acids have to pass through the liver before they reach blood circulatory system

• Amino acids are used to synthesized plasma proteins.

• Function of plasma proteins: blood clotting and osmoregulation

• When there are short supply of glucose, amino acids are converted to glucose by the liver through gluconeogenesis process.

ASSIMILATION OF AMINO ACIDS

• Amino acids that enter the cell are used for synthesizing protoplasm and repair the damaged tissue.

• Amino acids are also important blocks to synthesis hormones and enzymes.

• Excess of amino acids will be broken by deamination process. The waste product of this process is commonly the urea.

• Urea is transported to the kidneys and secreted out through urine.

LIPIDS• Lipids such as fats

represent the major energy store of the body

• Excess lipids are stored in the adipose tissue.

• Some lipids; ex: phospholipids and cholesterol are major components of plasma membranes

OTHER FUNCTION OF LIVER

• Liver acts as the detoxicification site• In this process, the liver removes

harmful substances from blood and convert them to less toxidic compounds.

• The detoxicification products are eliminated from the body through bile or urine.