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A,digestive,enzyme is,an enzyme,that,breaks,down,polymeric macromolecules into
their smaller building blocks, in order to facilitate their absorption by the body.
Digestive enzymes are found in the digestive tracts of animals (including humans)
and in the traps of carnivorous plants, where they aid in the digestion of food, as
well as inside cells, especially in their lysosomes, where they function to maintain
cellular survival. Digestive enzymes of diverse specificities and are found in
the saliva secreted by the salivary glands, in the secretions of cells lining the
stomach, in the pancreatic juice secreted by pancreatic exocrine cells, and in the
secretions of cells lining the small and large intestines.
Digestive enzymes are classified based on their target substrates:
Salivary glands
Secretory cells in the stomach
Secretory cells in the pancreas
Secretory glands in the small intestine
Mouth:
Complex food substances that are taken by animals and humans must be broken
down into simple, soluble, and diffusible substances before they can be absorbed.
In the oral cavity, salivary glands secrete an array of enzymes and substances that
aid in digestion and also disinfection. They include the following.
Lingual lipase: Lipid digestion initiates in the mouth. Lingual lipase starts
the digestion of the lipids/fats.
Salivary amylase: Carbohydrate digestion also initiates in the mouth.
Amylase, produced by the salivary glands, breaks complex carbohydrates to
smaller chains, or even simple sugars. It is sometimes referred to as ptyalin.
Lysozyme: Considering that food contains more than just essential nutrients,
e.g. bacteria or viruses, the lysozome offers a limited and non-specific, yet
beneficial antiseptic function in digestion.
Haptocorrin (also known as R-factor): Helps with the absorption of vitamin
B12. After Vitamin B12 is released from its original carrier protein in the
stomach, it gets bound to haptocorrin.
Stomach:
The enzymes that are secreted in the stomach are called gastric enzymes. The
stomach plays a major role in digestion, both in a mechanical sense by mixing and
crushing the food, and also in an enzymatic sense, by digesting it. The following
are enzymes, hormones or compounds produced by the stomach and their
respective function:
Pancreas:
Pancreas is both an endocrine and an exocrine gland, in that it functions to produce
endocrinic hormones released into the circulatory system (such as insulin,
and glucagon), to control glucose metabolism, and also to secrete
digestive/exocrinic pancreatic juice, which is secreted eventually via the pancreatic
duct into duodenum. Digestive or exocrine function of pancreas is as significant to
the maintenance of health as its endocrine function.
Two of the population of cells in the pancreatic parenchyma make up its digestive
enzymes:
Absorption is the process by which the end products of digestion pass through the
intestinal mucosa into the blood or lymph. It is carried out by passive, active or
facilitated transport mechanisms. Small amounts of monosaccharides like glucose,
amino acids and some electrolytes like chloride ions are generally absorbed by
simple diffusion. The passage of these substances into the blood depends upon the
concentration gradients. However, some substances like glucose and amino acids
are absorbed with the help of carrier proteins. This mechanism is called the
facilitated transport.
Transport of water depends upon the osmotic gradient. Active transport occurs
against the concentration gradient and hence requires energy. Various nutrients like
amino acids, monosaccharides like glucose, electrolytes like Na+ are absorbed into
the blood by this mechanism. Fatty acids and glycerol being insoluble, cannot be
absorbed into the blood. They are first incorporated into small droplets called
micelles which move into the intestinal mucosa. They are re-formed into very
small protein coated fat globules called the chylomicrons which are transported
into the lymph vessels (lacteals) in the villi. These lymph vessels ultimately release
the absorbed substances into the blood stream. Absorption of substances takes
place in different parts of the alimentary canal, like mouth, stomach, small intestine
and large intestine. However, maximum absorption occurs in the small intestine.
The absorbed substances finally reach the tissues which utilise them for their
activities. This process is called assimilation. The digestive wastes, solidified into
coherent faeces in the rectum initiate a neural reflex causing an urge or desire for
its removal. The egestion of faeces to the outside through the anal opening
(defaecation) is a voluntary process and is carried out by a mass peristaltic
movement.