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Originally posted by Supple Cow
Okay, okay. But that's what I'm asking! Can somebody describe the transformation of water when we drink it (if one occurs at all)? What does the stuff we don't urinate turn into? (I'm looking for a really specific answer here.)
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When you drink water, it enters your body, as it touches epithelial tissues, some of it is absorbed into the tissue osmoticially. The same goes for your stomach and small instestines, but only in small amounts. Water is mainly extracted in the large intestine. The large intestine is reponsible for water extraction, this makes your feces more solid.
Water doesen't break down into anything in your body. Water is water. Two Hydrogens and an Oxygen, water is a solvent in a way, a polar solvent, which minerals and other water soluble nutrients are dissolved into. Water makes up about 70% of the human body, and water is the main component in most every fluid in your body.
When your body receives a quantity of water, it is treated as any other 'ingested' substance, water is absorbed through the epitheial tissues, smooth muscle tissues and intestinal villi. Think of villi like alveoli in your lungs. Alveoli are bound capiliaries that exchange gasses in your lungs. Villi promote the exchange of water/fluids/nutrients/salts,etc.
Yeah, in the end, the water that you ingest is absorbed into your body, but it stays water, it just gets dispersed throughout your body, a small part leaves through your feces, and the majority gets excreted by the kidneys.
-SF