A patient ingests a meal rich in triglycerides. Apply your knowledge of digestion and absorption to select the correct sequence: which enzymes/organs act to create absorbable fatty acids and where are they absorbed?

• A. Pancreatic proteases break triglycerides into amino acids that are then absorbed into lymph and transported as chylomicrons
• B. Pepsin in the stomach hydrolyzes triglycerides to free fatty acids which are absorbed directly into portal blood as free FA bound to albumin
• C. Salivary amylase begins fat digestion which is completed by brush border lipases and then fatty acids directly diffuse into hepatic veins bypassing lymph
• D. Bile salts emulsify fats in the duodenum (liver/gallbladder), pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides into fatty acids and monoglycerides, those lipids form micelles then are re-esterified and packaged into chylomicrons to enter lymph

Answer: (D)