Digestive enzymes

Question 1

What is the point of digestive enzymes

Answer 1

• Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are too big to pass through the walls of the digestive system. Digestive enzymes break dows the big molecules into smaller, soluble molceules that can pass through the walls of the digestive system and can be absorbed into the bloodstream

Question 2

How are carbohydrates broken down

Answer 2

• Carbohydrates are broken down by carbohydrases into smaller sugars
• Starch (a carbohydrate) is broken down by amylase (a carbohydrase) into maltose (smaller sugar)
• Amylse is found in salivary glands, pancreas and the small intestine
• Maltose are broken down by maltase into glucose

Question 3

How are proteins broken down

Answer 3

• Broken down by proteases into amino acids
• Proteases are found in the stomach, pancreas and small intestines

Question 4

How are lipids broken down

Answer 4

• Fats (lipids) are broken down by lipases into glycerol and fatty acids
• Lipases are found in the pacreas and small intestine

Question 5

What is the use of bile

Answer 5

• Neutralises the stomach acid (so that enzymes can work)
• Emulsifies fats (increases the surface area of fats to increase the rate of reaction
• Produced in liver and stored in gall blader