In: Biology
STARCH DIGESTION
When starch enters into mouth, salivary amylase enzymes breaks down starch into small pieces. These half digestive particles enters into stomach through oesophagus. The low pH in stomach inactivates the salivary amylase, and thereby inhibits the action of amylase. Stomach then facilitates the mechanical grinding of half digested starch particles. The mechanically digested starch particles is then moves from stomach to small intestine, where the majority of food absorption takes place.
Similar to salivary amylase, pancreatic amylase secreted from pancreas breaks down the starch particles in small intestine. It produce small oligosaccharides and maltose. The enterocytes produces maltase enzymes for the break down of maltose. By the action of this intestinal enzyme, maltose breaks down into glucose. The hexos sugars: glucose, fructose, and galactose are then absorbed through the intestinal walls and are transported to various body parts through blood.
Blood carry glucose molecules to target cells such as muscles cells. The galactose and fructose isomerized into glucose for the production of ATP during cellular respiration. The energy (chemical) of glucose is transferred to ATP through different stages: glycolysis (splitting of glucose), krebs cycle (or TCA cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation.
Digestion and absorption of glucose is completed with kelp of hormones, enzymes, and transporters. Hormones involved in digestion are gastrin ( stomach ), cholecytokinin (small intestine), gastric inhibitory peptide (small intestine), secretin ( small intestine ) and motilin (small intestine).
EXPLANATION