Chapter 5 · Question 9
What is the function of digestive enzymes?
Q9
What is the function of digestive enzymes?
Answer Revealed
Direct Answer:
Digestive enzymes break down complex food molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into simple, absorbable forms.
Simple Explanation
Digestive enzymes act like chemical scissors — they cut large food molecules into tiny pieces that can pass through the intestine wall into the blood.
Exam-Ready Structure
Digestive enzymes are biocatalysts that break down complex, insoluble food substances into simple, soluble forms that can be absorbed by the body. For example, amylase breaks down starch into maltose; pepsin and trypsin break down proteins into peptides and amino acids; lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Each enzyme is specific to its substrate and works best at a particular pH. Without digestive enzymes, food would remain too large to be absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.
Key Points
- Break down complex food into simple, absorbable forms
- Amylase acts on carbohydrates
- Pepsin and trypsin act on proteins
- Lipase acts on fats
Common Mistakes
- Confusing enzymes with hormones
- Saying enzymes are 'used up' during digestion
Relevant Maps and Figures
Human Alimentary Canal
figure
Use the canal figure to identify where saliva, stomach acid, bile, and pancreatic enzymes act.
It helps turn a list of enzymes into an ordered digestion pathway.
This digestive tract figure is the cleanest reference for tracking how food moves from the mouth to the intestine and where digestion changes at each stage.
Answer Sources
- Digestive enzymes along the alimentary canaltextbook section | Science | Life Processes | Human digestion | Pages 7-8