chylomikron

Chylomicrons are lipoprotein particles that are produced in the small intestine. Their primary function is to transport dietary lipids, such as triglycerides and cholesterol, from the intestines to the rest of the body, particularly to the liver and peripheral tissues. These large particles are assembled from dietary fats and proteins synthesized in the intestinal cells called enterocytes. Once formed, chylomicrons enter the lymphatic system through specialized vessels called lacteals before eventually reaching the bloodstream. Within the bloodstream, they circulate and deliver their fatty acid cargo to tissues that require energy or for storage. Enzymes like lipoprotein lipase, found on the surface of capillary walls in various tissues, break down the triglycerides within chylomicrons, releasing free fatty acids. The remaining remnants of the chylomicrons, depleted of most triglycerides, are then taken up by the liver for further processing. The presence of chylomicrons in the blood after a meal is normal, and their transient appearance contributes to the milky appearance of blood drawn after fat ingestion, a phenomenon known as lipemia.