Bacteria & Enzymes In Digestion

• What is the role of bacteria in digestion?

  They aid digestion and produce vitamins
• What vitamins do bacteria in the large intestine produce?

  Vitamin K
• Why is vitamin K important for the body?

  It helps with blood clotting
• What begins the process of digestion?

  Teeth breaking down food
• What do digestive juices contain?

  Enzymes that break down nutrients
• What are enzymes known as in digestion?

  Biological catalysts
• What is the function of enzymes in digestion?

  They speed up digestion without being used up
• What are the three main types of digestive enzymes?

  • Carbohydrase
  • Protease
  • Lipase
• What does carbohydrase do?

  Breaks down carbohydrates into sugar molecules
• Where are carbohydrates digested?

  Mouth, stomach, and small intestine
• What does protease do?

  Breaks down proteins into amino acids
• Where are proteins digested?

  Stomach and small intestine
• What does lipase do?

  Breaks down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol
• Where does lipid digestion take place?

  In the small intestine
• What substance helps lipase in lipid digestion?

  Bile
• What does bile do to lipids?

  Breaks them into small droplets
• What are the main functions of digestive enzymes?

  • Break down large molecules into smaller ones
  • Speed up digestion
  • Specific to different nutrients
• How do the roles of carbohydrase, protease, and lipase differ?

  They break down different types of nutrients
• What is the end product of carbohydrate digestion?

  Sugar molecules
• What is the end product of protein digestion?

  Amino acids
• What is the end product of lipid digestion?

  Fatty acids and glycerol
• What role does acid in the stomach play?

  Helps digestion and kills microorganisms
• How do bacteria in the digestive system contribute to health?

  By producing vitamins and aiding digestion
• What is the relationship between enzymes and digestion?

  Enzymes facilitate the breakdown of nutrients
• If a person has a deficiency in vitamin K, what might be a consequence?

  Increased bleeding and poor wound healing
• How would a lack of protease affect the body?

  Inability to break down proteins
• What dietary changes could improve digestion?

  Increase fiber intake for bacteria
• What might happen if lipase is not functioning properly?

  Difficulty in digesting fats