The stomach of animals contains hydrochloric acid, which helps in dissolving minerals in the diet.
Absorption is the process by which digested nutrients pass from the walls of the digestive tract into the blood. In
carnivores and omnivores, most absorption occurs in the small intestine. Some absorption occurs in the small
intestine of herbivores. No absorption occurs in the mouth or esophagus. Very little absorption occurs in the
stomachs of non-ruminants. The large intestine absorbs very few nutrients, except for water in carnivores. This is
converse to herbivores in which the large intestine in the site of substantial absorption.
The small intestine is lined with a large number of small, finger-like projections (villi). These villi absorb food
nutrients. They contain many blood vessels responsible for collecting and absorbing nutrients.