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Lymphatic Absorption

Meaning

The essential physiological process by which dietary fats, fat-soluble vitamins, and certain lipophilic substances, including some orally administered hormones and drugs, are absorbed from the lumen of the small intestine and subsequently transported into the systemic circulation via the lymphatic system. Unlike water-soluble nutrients that enter the portal vein directly, these lipids are packaged into chylomicrons and bypass the initial, high-concentration hepatic first-pass metabolism. This unique route of absorption is a critical determinant of the bioavailability and overall pharmacokinetics of lipophilic compounds.