A student creates a physical model of the inside of the small intestine. The model is made up of long balloons packed closely together inside a shallow box. How do the parts of the model relate to the function(s) of the small intestine?
Responses
A The balloons represent a large volume within the small intestine in which store food for later use can be stored.The balloons represent a large volume within the small intestine in which store food for later use can be stored.
B The balloons represent the moving parts of the small intestine that allow it to move food through the body.The balloons represent the moving parts of the small intestine that allow it to move food through the body.
C The balloons represent the many identical parts of the small intestine that work together to break down food into molecules.The balloons represent the many identical parts of the small intestine that work together to break down food into molecules.
D The balloons represent the enlarge surface area of the small intestine over which nutrients from digested food can be absorbed.
D The balloons represent the enlarged surface area of the small intestine over which nutrients from digested food can be absorbed.
The small intestine has a highly folded inner lining with structures called villi and microvilli that greatly increase the surface area for absorption, aiding in the efficient uptake of nutrients from the food we eat. The balloons in the model can be seen as an analogy for these structures, illustrating how the small intestine maximizes surface area within a limited space to optimize nutrient absorption. They do not represent storage for food, moving parts for transport, or identical parts working to break down food. Their role in the model is to symbolize the expansive, absorptive inner surface of the small intestine.