The |carbohydrates| and food broken down in the |small intestine| is absorbed by the finger-like structures called villi. It is then passed into the tiny |capillaries| of the intestine, which run into small ~blood~ vessels draining each villus. The small vessels run into larger ones and then eventually into the hepatic |portal vein| which leads to the |liver|. The next steps of the breakdown process continues in the |liver|. The nutrients are then delivered to other cells in the body. A collection of |capillaries| also supplies the muscular walls of the |large intestine| with oxygen and nutrients, and also removes water, |vitamins|, and |minerals| taken into the |liver|.
