Enzymes And Digestion

• digestive enzymes break down big food molecules into smaller ones so they're small and soluble and can pass easily through the digestive system to be absorbed into the bloodstream
• carbohydrases break down carbohydrates into simple sugars
• amylase breaks down starch into glucose and maltose
• amylase is found in the salivary glands, the pancreas and the small intestine
• proteases convert proteins into amino acids
• protease is made in the stomach (Pepsin), the pancreas and the small intestine
• lipases convert lipids into fatty acids and glycerol
• lipases are made in the pancreas and small intestine
• bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder before it's released into the small intestine
• the hydrochloric acid in the stomach is too acidic for enzymes to work. bile is alkaline and neutralises the acid for enzymes to work
• bile also emulsifies fats allowing the a bigger surface area for lipase to work on - digestion becomes faster
• salivary glands: produce amylase enzyme in the saliva
• liver: produces bile to neutralise stomach acid and emulsify fats
• gall bladder: bile is stored here until it's released into the small intestine
• large intestine: where excess water is absorbed from food
• rectum: where faeces is stored before leaving through the anus
• small intestine: produces protease, amylase and lipase to complete digestion. this is also where digested food is absorbed into the blood stream
• pancreas: produces protease, amylase and lipase. it release these into the small intestine
• Stomach: pummels food with its muscular walls

  • produces protease enzyme pepsin
  • produces hydrochloric acid to kill bacteria and give protease the correct pH to work in