The Digestive system (Digestion of Carbohydrates)
0 Pages | Leaving School | 29/03/2024

Digestion of Carbohydrates

Digestion of Carbohydrates



Carbohydrates are another form of biological molecule. They are an important energy source in cellular respiration. They are composed of monosaccharides, which is the basic molecular unit or monomer, all of which contain three molecules:

  • carbon (C)
  • hydrogen (H)
  • oxygen (O)

These molecules bind together in a specific ratio: Cx(H2O)y

Monosaccharides can join together to make polymer chains:

  • disaccharides are composed of two sugars
  • trisaccharides are composed of three sugars
  • polysaccharides are composed of many sugars

Digestion of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are broken down by enzymes. In digestion, different enzymes are responsible for breaking down different carbohydrates.

Name Location Function
Salivary amylasePancreatic amylaseMaltase

Sucrase

Fructose

Lactase

Secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth when you eat.Secreted from the pancreas into the small intestineProduced by the small intestineProduced by the small intestine

Produced by the small intestine

Produced by the small intestine

Breaks down polysaccharides into maltose (disaccharides)Breaks down polysaccharides into maltose (disaccharides) and maltriose (trisaccharides)Breaks down maltose into glucoseBreaks down sucrose into glucose

Breaks down lactose into glucose

Breaks down lactase into galatose

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