Digesting Fat: Absorption and Packaging

Fatty acids and monoglycerides are absorbed by the microvilli lining the small intestine and reassembled into triglycerides. Long-chain fatty acids and triglycerides are insoluble in blood.

For transport, triglycerides are packaged into special particles called chylomicrons. Chylomicrons are released into the lymphatic system and eventually enter the blood for circulation.

An arrow labeled Absorption shows small balls of fatty acids and monoglycerides entering a cross-section of the microvilli lining of the small intestines. Inside the microvilli, an arrow labelled Packaging points to a Chylomicron cluster ball with an arrow pointing down to the Lymphatic system.
Fatty acids and monoglycerides are absorbed and reassembled into triglycerides which are packaged into chylomicrons then released into the lymphatic system.