Digestion Flashcards
Definition of digestion
Large insoluble biological molecules in food are hydrolysed into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed across the cell membranes into the bloodstream and delivered to cells
What do the small soluble molecules used for
provide cells with energy
build other molecules for cell growth, repair and function
Process of digestion structures
1) Mouth
2) Salivary Glands
3) Oesophagus
4) Stomach
5) Small intestine
6) Large intestine
7) Rectum
8) Anus
Two types of digestion
Physical breakdown
Chemical digestion
Physical breakdown
Food churned by muscles in stomach wall and teeth in mouth
Provides surface for chemical digestion
What is hydrolysis
Splitting up of molecules adding water to the chemical bonds that hold them together
How do digestive enzymes function
Hydrolysis
What enzymes digest carbohydrates, lipids, proteins
Carbohydrases
Lipases
Proteases
Where is amylase produced
Mouth and pancrease
What enzyme hydrolyses starch
amylase
Process of the breakdown of starch
1) Amylase produced in mouth that pancreas
2) Amylase hydrolyses glycosidic bonds, producing maltose
3) Maltose is hydrolysed into a-glucose using maltase
Where is maltase produced
Ileum
Process of carbohydrate digestion
1) Saliva enters mouth from salivary gland mixed during chewing
2) Salivary amylase hydrolyses starch into maltose, containing mineral salts to maintain pH at neutral
3) Food swallowed and enters stomach. Acid denatures amylase preventing further hydrolyses of starch
4) Food enters small intestine and mixes with pancreatic juice
5) Containing pancreatic amylase that hydrolyses starch into maltose. Alkaline salts maintain pH so amylase can function
6) Muscles in intestine wall push food along ileum to produce maltase
7) Maltase hydrolysed to alpha glucose
Where are alkaline salts produced
Intestinal wall and pancreas
What hydrolyses sucrose
Sucrase
Hydrolyses glycosidic bond to produce glucose and fructose
What hydrolyses lactose
Lactase
produce glucose and galactose
Where are lipases produced
Pancreas
What do lipases do
Hydrolyse ester bonds in triglycerides to form fatty acids and monoglycerides
How are lipids digested
Emusification process where Lipids split into micelles by bile salts
Increasing SA of lipid for lipases to act on
Where are bile salts produced
Liver