In holozoic nutrition, the first essential step for complex organisms is ______

The correct answer is Ingestion.

Key Points

• Ingestion is the first step in holozoic nutrition, where food is taken into the body for further processng.
• It involves the intake of solid or liquid food through specialized structures such as the mouth or oral cavity in complex organisms.
• Ingestion enables organisms to acquire nutrients essential for their survival and growth.
• Holozoic nutrition is characteristic of most animals, including humans, and consists of multiple stages such as ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion.
• This step is critical for initiating the process of converting complex organic substances into simpler, absorbable forms for energy and cellular function.

Additional Information

• Holozoic Nutrition: A mode of nutrition where organisms ingest solid food, digest it internally, and absorb nutrients.
• Digestion: The biochemical process that breaks down complex food molecules into simpler substances using enzymes.
• Absorption: The process where digested nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream or cells for distribution throughout the body.
• Assimilation: The utilization of absorbed nutrients by cells to produce energy and build cellular structures.
• Egestion: The expulsion of undigested food and waste materials from the body after the completion of digestion.