IGCSE Biology 0610
7.4 Chemical Digestion
- Chemical digestion is the breakdown of large insoluble molecules into small soluble molecules that can be absorbed
Enzymes and Digestion
- Amylase breaks down starch into simple reducing sugars
Found in saliva, produced in pancreas and secreted into duodenum - Protease breaks down protein into amino acids
Found in gastric juice of stomach, produced in pancreas and secreted into duodenum - Lipase breaks down fats and oils into fatty acids and glycerol
Produced in pancreas and secreted into duodenum
The breakdown of starch:
- Amylase breaks down starch into maltose in saliva, from pancreas
- Maltase breaks down maltose into glucose at the membranes of the epithelium lining the small intestine
The breakdown of protein:
- Pepsin breaks down protein in acidic stomach
- Trypsin breaks down protein in alkaline small intestine