Enzymes and digestion

Digestive enzymes break down big molecules into smaller ones.
1. Starch, proteins and fats are big molecules, There're too big to pass through the walls of the digestive system.
2. Sugars, amino acids, glycerol and fatty acids are much smaller molecules. They can easily pass through the walls of the digestive system.
Amylase converts starch into sugars.
1. Amylase is made in 3 places: The salivary glands, the pancreas and the small intestine.
Protease converts proteins into amino acids.
1. Protease is made in 3 places: The stomach (its called pepsin there), The pancreas and the small intestine.
Lipase converts lipids into glycerol and fatty acids.
1. Lipase is made in 2 places: The pancreas and the small intestine.
The breakdown of food is catalysed by enzymes.
1. Salivary glands: These produce amylase enzymes in the saliva.
2. Liver: Where bile is produced. Bile neutralises stomach acid and emulsifiers fats.
3. Gall bladder: Where bile is stored, before it's released into the small intestine.
4. Large intestine: Where excess water is absorbed from the food.
5. Stomach: 1) It pummels the food with its muscular walls. 2) It produces the protease enzyme pepsin. 3) It produces hydrochloric acid to kill bacteria and to give the right PH level for the enzymes to work.
6. Pancreas: Produces protease, amylase and lipase enzymes. It then releases these into the small intestine.
7. Small intestine: 1) Produces protease, amylase and lipase enzymes to complete digestion. 2) This is also where the digested food is absorbed out of the digestive system into the blood.

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Enzymes and digestion

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	Created by jessica-gollop almost 11 years ago