question_answer 39)

    If salivary amylase is lacking in the saliva, which of the following events in the mouth cavity will be affected? (a) Proteins breaking down into amino acids (b) Starch breaking down into sugars (c) Fats breaking down into fatty acids and glycerol (d) Absorption of vitamins

Answer:

                  (b) The human saliva contains an enzyme called salivary amylase, which breaks down the starch present in food into sugar. The digestion of starch (carbohydrates) begins in the mouth. In case, saliva is lacking, it will affect the breakdown of starch. The protein digestion begins in the stomach by the enzyme pepsin and completes in small intestine by enzyme trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxy peptidases, amino peptidases and dipeptidases. The fats are broken down into small particles by bile in small intestine and then broken down into fatty acids and glycerol by lipases present in pancreatic juice. Absorption of vitamins takes place in the small intestine.