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🔬 Biology  ·  Digestion and Absorption  ·  NEET

Bile salts aid fat digestion mainly by:

Answer: Emulsifying large fat globules into smaller droplets, increasing surface area for lipase action.

  • A Neutralizing the acidity of fats entering the duodenum under typical physiological conditions
  • B Emulsifying large fat globules into smaller droplets, increasing surface area for lipase action
  • C Activating pepsinogen in the stomach before fats reach the duodenum in most observed cases
  • D Directly hydrolyzing triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol under most conditions studied

Correct answer: B. Emulsifying large fat globules into smaller droplets, increasing surface area for lipase action

Explanation: Bile salts emulsify fats, breaking large globules into smaller droplets and increasing the surface area available for pancreatic lipase to act on.

Labeled diagram of the human digestive system showing mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, and large intestine

The human digestive system. Image: LadyofHats (Mariana Ruiz), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Concept context

The digestive tract, digestive enzymes, hormonal control of digestion, and liver function. High NEET weightage.

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