Digestion and Absorption of Macronutrients Flowchart Carbohydrates 1.

Mouth salivary amylase excreted by the salivary glands, breaks down starch into shorter polysaccharides and maltose, a disaccharide. 2. Stomach - salivary amylase denatured by hydrochloric acid 3. Pancreas pancreatic amylase secreted into small intestine where it will come in contact with chyme from the stomach 4. Small Intestine Pancreatic amylase continues to break down starch into maltose. It is digested by the enzyme maltase to produce glucose which is absorbed enterocytes and enters the bloodstream. 5. Liver Fructose and galactose are also absorbed by enterocytes and enter the bloodstream to the liver, where they are turned to glucose before being used as energy by cells. 6. Large Intestine Undigested carbohydrates of fiber is partially digested by bacteria but most is excreted as feces. Fats 1. Mouth salivary glands secrete salivary lipase 2. Stomach gastric lipases continues to break down fat into fat droplets 3. Gall Bladder release of bile into the small intestine mixes with chyme from the stomach. 4. Small intestine Pancreas Pancreatic lipase is secreted into the small intestine at the same time as chyme, and separates 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 to the mucosal cells for absorption. 5. Lymph system Chylomicrons, which are lipoproteins composed of fat-soluble vitamins formed after absorption, enter the lymph system to be removed of lipids and triglycerides so that they can be more easily absorbed to the bloodstream. Lipoprotein lipase further removes fats from chylomicrons and disassembles triglycerides so that it will be able to pass the cell membranes of a muscle or adipose cells. They are then reformed. 6. Large Intestine Undigested food from the small intestine is transferred to the large intestine where water is absorbed. Proteins 1. Mouth Food is mechanically digested in the mouth by chewing. It is moistened with saliva. 2. Stomach HCl denaturizes the strands of amino acids by uncoiling them. Pepsin is also released to hydrolize proteins into shorter polypeptide chains and single amino acids. 3. Small intestine Proteases, which are protein enzymes, separate polypeptides in the chyme from the stomach into single amino acids so that they can be absorbed by mucosal cells to enter the bloodstream. 4. Liver regulates absorbed amino acids and metabolism according to the bodys needs by distributing them throughout the body. 5. Large intestine Undigested food from the small intestine is transferred to the large intestine where water is absorbed from waste.