NCERT Exemplar Solutions for Class 11 Biology Chapter 16 Digestion and Absorption
The NCERT Exemplar Solutions for Class 11 Biology Chapter 16, Digestion and Absorption, focus on how the human body processes food to derive energy and essential nutrients. This chapter introduces the human digestive system, the role of digestive glands, the action of enzymes, absorption mechanisms, and common disorders. NCERT Exemplar questions provide application-based practice, enabling students to strengthen their conceptual understanding and problem-solving abilities, which are valuable for both board exams and competitive exams like NEET.
The chapter begins with the human digestive system, describing the structure and function of organs such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Exemplar questions often ask students to label diagrams, explain the role of villi in nutrient absorption, or analyze the importance of peristalsis in food movement.
The digestive glands—salivary glands, liver, pancreas, and gastric glands—are explained in detail. Students learn about their secretions, including saliva, gastric juice, bile, pancreatic juice, and intestinal juice, and their specific roles in digestion. Exemplar questions typically focus on the function of enzymes such as amylase, pepsin, trypsin, and lipase, and the importance of bile salts in emulsification of fats. The process of digestion of food components is a major focus area. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Exemplar questions may ask students to identify the site of digestion of specific biomolecules or to explain why some enzymes work only at certain pH levels. Another significant section is absorption of digested food. The chapter explains how glucose and amino acids are absorbed through active transport, facilitated diffusion, and simple diffusion, while fatty acids are absorbed into the lymphatic system. Exemplar questions often involve application-based scenarios, such as comparing absorption in different parts of the small intestine or explaining the role of villi and microvilli. The chapter also deals with assimilation and egestion. Assimilation refers to the utilization of absorbed nutrients for energy production and tissue repair, while egestion is the elimination of undigested material. Exemplar questions may include reasoning-based problems connecting assimilation with metabolism.
A crucial part of this chapter is disorders of the digestive system, such as indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, jaundice, and vomiting. Exemplar questions often ask students to differentiate between these disorders or explain their causes and preventive measures. To prepare effectively, students should focus on the NCERT diagrams of the human digestive system and the table summarizing enzyme actions. Exemplar questions help students practice both direct and higher-order problems, including numerical questions on calorie values of different food groups. In conclusion, NCERT Exemplar Solutions for Class 11 Biology Chapter 16 Digestion and Absorption provide a structured way to master human physiology related to food processing. By solving these questions, students enhance their conceptual clarity, gain confidence in application-based problems, and build a strong foundation for exams like NEET.