Question

1.    Describe the exocrine function of the pancreas. How is it related to digestion of the energy-yielding nutrients?

2. If you want to maintain a feeling of fullness for as long as possible, which meal would be preferred: 800 calories of spaghetti with tomato sauce, bread, and tea or 800 calories of spaghetti with tomato and meat sauce, bread with butter, and water? Why?

Answer 1

1. Functioning as an exocrine gland, the pancreas is able to excrete enzymes that are responsible to break down the proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids in food. Pancreatic amylase breaks down the large polysaccharides like starches and glycogen into smaller sugars such as maltose, maltotriose, and glucose. Trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase are protein-digesting enzymes which break down proteins into their amino acid subunits. Pancreatic lipase is a lipid-digesting enzyme that is responsible to break large triglyceride molecules into fatty acids and monoglycerides. Ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease are enzymes that can digest nucleic acids. The intestines can directly absorb the digested foods.

2. If you want to maintain a feeling of fullness for as long as possible, which meal would be preferred?

B) 800 calories of spaghetti with tomato and meat sauce, bread with butter, and water

Because this meal provides carbohydrate, protein, fat as well as water which is necessary for our fulfilment.