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intestinal membrane highly permeable to water that
flows according to osmotic gradient
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most nutrients absorbed through the upper half of
the intestine
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brush border of small intestine greatly increases
surface area for absorption
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main process is absorption of Na (and Cl) via Na channels
or Na-nutrient cotransporters
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Na is then pumped into the blood by Na-K ATPase which
maintains a net gut to blood, Na gradient
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