Self-sealing fluid absorbent article

A fluid absorbent article, comprising an absorbent web expandable upon fluid absorption and joined to a topsheet of fluid impervious material having a plurality of tapered passages therein, each open at its respective base and apex, and oriented with its base in the plane of the topsheet and its apex disposed in an interior portion of said absorbent web, such that fluid contacting the topsheet, surface tensionally enters the tapered passages at the bases thereof for passage therethrough to exit at the apexes thereof into the absorbent web, whereupon expansion of the absorbent web in proximity to the tapered passages compressively affects closure thereof to sealingly retain the fluid in the absorbent web. Such article is applicable to a method of absorbing fluids in a corporeal environment, comprising the step of contacting the topsheet with the fluid, surface tensionally flowing the fluid into the absorbent web through the tapered passages, and expanding the web to compressively close the tapered passages and sealingly retain fluid in the absorbent web.