# Explain why glucose can be absorbed from the small intestine into the blood by active transport, even when the concentration of glucose in the blood is already higher than in the small intestine.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1) — 2.4 Movement of substances into and out of cells · Explain · 4 marks

> After a meal, glucose is produced in the small intestine by the digestion of carbohydrates. The glucose must be moved from the small intestine into the bloodstream.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Active transport moves substances against the concentration gradient / from a more dilute to a more concentrated solution
2. Active transport requires energy from respiration
3. Diffusion cannot be used because glucose would need to move against its concentration gradient
4. This allows all available glucose to be absorbed / ensures no glucose is wasted / lost in faeces

## Key terms

- [active transport](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/active-transport)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-glucose-can-be-absorbed-a05b5c78) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.