Digestive Secretions

Question 1

What is a salivary gland?

Answer 1

A gland in the mouth that secretes saliva. Three pairs of glands produce saliva, which dissolves food so it can be tasted.

Question 2

What is the role of salivary glands in producing saliva containing enzymes?

Answer 2

They secret saliva which contains mucus that lubricates the mouth and holds food in a lump for swallowing. It also contains the enzyme salivary amylase, which begins the chemical digestion of starch.

Question 3

What is the role of the liver in producing bile to aid in fat digestion?

Answer 3

Produces bile, which is stored and concentrated in the gall bladder. Bile emulsifies lipids in the small intestine aiding in fat digestion.

Question 4

What is the role of the gall bladder in storing and releasing bile into the small intestine?

Answer 4

The gall bladder stores bile and releases it into the small intestine, where the bile emulsifies lipids.

Question 5

What is the role of the pancreas in producing digestive enzymes?

Answer 5

The pancreas produces pancreatic juice containing enzymes for digesting proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid. It contains enzymes such as pancreatic amylase, pancreatic protease, pancreatic lipases, and ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease

Question 6

What is the role of bile in breaking down fats?

Answer 6

Bile contains no digestive enzymes but has bile salts important for the digestion of fats

Bile salts break the fat into tiny droplets; a form of MD that increases the surface area on which lipases can act to chemically break down the fat.