What enzyme in saliva begins the breakdown of carbohydrates?

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Enhance your knowledge of the digestive system with our quiz. Answer multiple choice questions with detailed explanations. Prepare effectively for your anatomy and physiology exam!

Multiple Choice

What enzyme in saliva begins the breakdown of carbohydrates?

Explanation:
Carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth, where saliva provides an enzyme that begins breaking down starches. This enzyme is salivary amylase (also called ptyalin). It cleaves the alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds in starch and glycogen, producing smaller sugars such as maltose and dextrins, so the carbohydrate digestion process begins even before food reaches the stomach. Pepsin digests proteins in the stomach, not carbohydrates. Lipase targets fats, aiding fat digestion (with some contribution from lingual lipase in saliva, but the main fat digestion happens later in the small intestine). Trypsin is a pancreatic enzyme that also digests proteins in the small intestine.

Carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth, where saliva provides an enzyme that begins breaking down starches. This enzyme is salivary amylase (also called ptyalin). It cleaves the alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds in starch and glycogen, producing smaller sugars such as maltose and dextrins, so the carbohydrate digestion process begins even before food reaches the stomach.

Pepsin digests proteins in the stomach, not carbohydrates. Lipase targets fats, aiding fat digestion (with some contribution from lingual lipase in saliva, but the main fat digestion happens later in the small intestine). Trypsin is a pancreatic enzyme that also digests proteins in the small intestine.

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