Introduction Bile acids are essential in the processing of dietary lipids and serve at least four major functions: (1) Bile acids aggregate and form micelles in the upper small intestine, which help to solubilize lipolytic products, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins,…
Introduction The gastrointestinal (GI) tract performs the essential function of receiving, digesting, and absorbing nutrients from our diet. Digestion is the mechanical and chemical enzymatic breakdown of the food we consume. Absorption is the mobilization of digestion products across the…
Introduction In this chapter we will describe the process of how a complex three-dimensional digestive system with regional differentiation stems from a primitive endodermal tube-like structure. The dramatic cellular and molecular changes seen in gastrointestinal (GI) development guide our understanding…