Digestion Flashcards
What do digestive enzymes break down
Big molecules
Examples of big molecules
Starch, proteins and fats
What do enzymes do in the digestive system
Break down big molecules into smaller ones
Examples of small molecules broken down from big ones
Amino acids, glycerol and fatty acids, and sugar
What happens to the small molecules after they have been broken down
They are absorbed into the bloodstream
What does carbohydrase do
Converts carbohydrates into simple sugars
What does protease do
Converts proteins into amino acids
What does lipase do
Converts lipids into glycerol and fatty acids
An example of a carbohydrase
Amylase
What does amylase do
It breaks down starch to form maltose and other simple sugars
Where is amylase made
-salivary glands
-pancreas
-small intestine
Where is protease made
-stomach (pepsin)
-pancreas
-small intestine
What protease is in the stomach
Pepsin
Where is lipase made
-pancreas
-small intestine
What does bile do
Where is bile produced
Liver
Where is bile stored
Gall bladder
What does bile do
-… the … in the stomach so that it doesn’t … enzymes in the … intestine
-… fat
-… it down into small … which gives them a bigger … area for … enzymes to … on
-making … quicker
-neutralised the acid in the stomach so that it doesn’t denature enzymes in the small intestine
-emulsifies fat
-breaking it down into small droplets which gives them a bigger surface area for lipase enzymes to work on
-making digestion quicker
What is the breakdown of food catalysed by
Enzymes
What role do the salivary glands play in digestion
-produce amylase
—>and enzyme in the saliva which breaks down starch in food
What role does the stomach play in digestion
-it pummels food with its muscular walls
-produces pepsin, a protease enzyme
-produces HCl which: kills bacteria, and it the right pH (2) for protease enzymes to work
What role does the liver play in digestion
-produces bile
—>neutralises stomach acid
—>emulsifies fat
What role does the gall bladder play in digestion
-bile is stored there before it’s released into the small intestine
Role of the large intestine in digestion
-excess water is absorbed from the food
