Describe in detail the digestion of a triglyceride in a nonruminant (e. g. human, pig) by describing in detail the mechanisms that involve (1) the agents of digestion at each site (s), (2) the end product (s) of digestion at each site (s), and (3) the site (s) of end product absorption.

1. Agents involved in the triglyceride digestion are -

Bile salts, Pancreatic Lipase.

These act on the lipids in small intestine.

2. Action of the above enzymes and end products -

Bile Salts break down lipid in smaller droplets. They are still triglycerides but their size is reduced as molecule. Pancreatic Lipase - acts of the lipids emulsified by the bile salts and break them to the monoglycerides.

3. Site of end product absorption -

Monoglycerides are absorbed in the small intestine.

Explanation:

The digestion of lipids or triglycerides begins in the small intestine. Here these triglycerides are broken down into smaller chain molecules and further into monoglycerides by the action of pancreatic lipase. Pancreatic lipase breakes down fats after they are emulsified by the action of Bile salts. Bile salts are released from the gall bladder by the action of cholecysctokinin which is secreted by the intestinal cells when the food comes to small intestine as chyme.

After the digestion, these monoglycerides are transported across the intestinal membrane. After transport they again become triglycerides and packaged with cholesterol molecules and are called chylomicrons. These are phospholipid vesicles that enable lipid molecules to be transported further in the aqueous environment of the body.