enzymes and digestion

• digestive enzymes break down big molecules
• starch, proteins, carbohydrates and fats are big molecules
• digestive enzymes break down big molecules as they are too big to pass through the walls of the digestive system
• carbohydrases convert carbohydrates into simple sugars
• amylase breaks down starch into maltose
• proteases convert proteins into amino acids
• amylase is made in the salivary glands, the pancreas and the small intestine
• proteases are made in the stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine
• lipases convert lipids into glycerol and fatty acids
• lipases are made in the pancreas and the small intestine
• bile neutralises stomach acid and emulsifies fat
• emulsifying fat gives it a much bigger surface area for the enzyme lipase to work on
• the salivary glands produce amylase enzyme in the saliva
• the liver produces bile, which neutralises stomach acid and emulsifies fats
• bile is stored in the gall bladder before it is released into the small intestine
• the large intestine is where excess water is absorbed from the food
• the stomach pummels food with its muscular walls, produces the protease enzyme, pepsin, and hydrochloric acid
• hydrochloric acid kills bacteria and gives the right pH for the protease enzyme to work
• the pancreas produces protease, amylase and lipase
• the small intestine produces protease, amylase and lipase and is where digested food is absorbed out of the digestive system into the blood
• the large intestine is where the faeces are stored before exiting the body through the rectum