Enzymes And Digestion Flashcards
What do digestive enzymes do?
They break big molecules into smaller ones.
What molecules are the big ones?
Starch
Proteins
Fats
What are the smaller molecules?
Sugars
Amino acids
Glycerol and Fatty acids
Why do molecules need to be broken down into smaller ones?
Because big molecules are insoluble and too big to pass through the walls of the digestive system.
What do small molecules have the ability to do that big ones don’t?
Pass through the walls of the digestive system and dissolve.
What does amylase do?
Converts starch into maltose.
What converts maltose into glucose?
Maltase.
What do proteases do?
Convert proteins into amino acids.
What converts lipids into glycerol and fatty acids?
Lipases
What are the 4 digestive enzymes?
Amylase + Maltase
Protease
Lipases
What is the role of bile in the digestive system?
To neutralise stomach acid and emulsify fats.
Where is bile produced?
Liver
Where is bile stored?
Gall bladder before being released into the small intestine.
Why is bile required?
The hydrochloric acid in the stomach makes the pH too acidic for enzymes in the small intestine to work properly. Bile is alkaline and therefore neutralises the acid and makes conditions alkaline.
What is the emulsification of fats
Emulsification is the breaking down of fats into tiny droplets. This gives a much bigger surface area for the enzyme lipase to work on - this makes digestion faster.
What is the name of the muscle action that moves food through the gut?
Peristalsis
Explain the process of peristalsis.
The muscular tissue all the way down the alimentary canal’s job is to squeeze boluses through your gut. If it didn’t, your gut would be clogged with old food. It does this by waves of circular muscle contractions.
