1.8 Chemical Digestion of Protein, Lipids and Carbs

Question 1

Digestion of Carbohydrates

Answer 1

Mouth - breakdown of starch by salivary amylase into polysaccharides and maltose.

Stomach - carb digestion is reduced.

Small Intestine - pancreatic amylase breaks down polysaccharides into glucose chains and di’s. Dissach enzyme continue to break them down into mono’s for absorption.

Large intestine - soluble fibre fermented by bacteria.

Question 2

Digestion of Proteins:

Answer 2

Mouth - no chemical digestion

Stomach - HCL converts inactive pepsinogen into pepsin. HCL denatures proteins allowing gastric pepsin to break peptide bonds forming shorter chains.

Small Intestine - pancreatic and intestinal proteases break peptide into amino acids to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Question 3

Digestion of Lipids

Answer 3

Mouth-lingual lipase breaks down lipids into shorter fatty acid chains.

Stomach - minimal chemical digestion

Small Intestine - pancreatic lipase breaks down fat into singular fatty acid chains, glycerol or monoglycerides to allow for absorption.