ASSIMILATION OF

DIGESTED 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.