Carbohydrates The digestion and absorption of carbohydrates starts in the mouth where salivary amylase is secreted by the salivary

glands, which breaks down starch into shorter polysaccharides and maltose, which is a disaccharide. Then the food moves through the esophagus into the stomach where salivary amylase, is denatured by hydrochloric acid. At the same time, pancreatic amylase is secreted into the small intestine where it will come in contact with the chyme from the stomach. In the small intestine, pancreatic amylase which is produce by the pancreas continues to break down starch into maltose. It is digested by the enzyme maltase to produce glucose, which is absorbed by the enterocytes and enters the bloodstream. The enterocytes also absorb fructose and galactose to be absorbed in the bloodstream and thus to the liver, producing glucose to be used as energy. The undigested carbohydrates of fibers are partially digested by bacteria in the large intestine but most is excreted as waste. Fats The digestion and absorption of fats also start in the mouth with the salivary glands secreting salivary lipase when food is being mechanically digested by chewing. After food is swallowed, it reaches the stomach and is continued to be broken down into fat droplets by gastric lipase. Eating stimulates the gall bladder to release bile into the small intestine to be mixed with chyme from the stomach. Bile is produced in the liver and aids the process of fat digestion. Once the chyme enters the small intestine, the pancreas releases pancreatic lipase into the small intestine to separate the triglycerides into two free fatty acids and one monoglyceride. Monoglycerides are absorbed by the enterocytes and are absorbed by the bloodstream. The free fatty acids are transported by micelles, or spherical shaped molecules, to the mucosal cells for absorption. The lymph system is used in the digestion of fats because chylomicrons, which are

lipoproteins composed of fat-soluble vitamins, need to be removed of lipids so that they can be more easily absorbed to the bloodstream. Lipoprotein lipase further removes fats from chylomicrons and separates triglycerides so that it will be able to pass the cell membrane of muscle or adipose cells easily, where triglycerides are then reformed once inside the cell. Undigested food from the small intestine is transferred to the large intestine where water is absorbed and eventually excreted as waste. Proteins The first step in the digestion and absorption of proteins is the mechanical action of chewing in the mouth where food is moistened with saliva. When food enters the stomach, hydrochloric acid denaturizes or uncoils the strands of amino acids. The pepsin enzyme is also released in the stomach to hydrolize proteins into shorter polypeptide chains and single amino acids. When chyme enters the small intestine, the protease enzyme separates polypeptides into single amino acids so that they can be absorbed by mucosal cells to enter the bloodstream. The absorbed amino acids are transported to the liver which helps regulate them according to metabolism and other bodily needs. Undigested food from the small intestine is transferred to the large intestine where water is absorbed and eventually excreted as waste.