Chemical Digestion is the process by which food is broken down chemically by

enzymes and converted so that it can be absorbed by the cells of an organism and
used to maintain vital bodily functions.
 Stage one – Food entering the mouth is mixed with Saliva secreted by the
Salivary glands. Saliva contains mucous, water and the enzyme Salivary
Amylase that breaks down Starch into Maltose.
 Stage two – After food is chewed, it is swallowed and passed into the
Oesophagus which is a muscular tube that connects the mouth and stomach.
This muscular structure pushes the food along by a process called peristalsis.
 Stage three – On entering the Stomach food is mixed with Gastric juice
containing-dilute Hydrochloric acid (maintains acidic pH and kills any
bacteria), mucous for lubrication and the enzyme Pepsin which breaks down
proteins into polypeptides. The stomach mixes and churns the food into a
liquid called Chyme.
 Stage four – The food then enters the small intestines. The small intestine is
divided into 3 parts:
1. The Duodenum – contains Bile produced in the Liver. Bile helps to emulsify
fats creating a large surface area for the action of enzymes. It also contains
Pancreatic juices secreted by the Pancreas, which contains –
Pancreatic amylase – breaks down starch into maltose
Trypsin – breaks down protein into polypeptides and polypeptides into Amino
acids.
Pancreatic Lipase – breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
Pancreatic juice also contains Sodium hydrogen Carbonate which helps to
maintain the alkaline pH in the intestines and helps to neutralize the effect of the
acid from the stomach.
2. The jejunum is the middle part of the Intestines and allows further
breakdown to occur.
3. The Ileum, which is the third part, contains more enzymes that will complete
the breakdown of food and allow the nutrients to be absorbed into the blood.
The enzymes present include:
Maltase – which breaks down Maltose into glucose
Sucrase – which breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose
Lactase – which breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose.
Lipase – which breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol
Peptidases, which break down polypeptides into amino acids.
The Ileum is well adapted for its function of reabsorption of nutrients as it
contains millions of tiny finger-like projections called Villi that increase surface
area, they have dense networks of blood capillaries for taking up the nutrients
and the walls are only one cell thick making diffusion of substances across the
membrane easier. The Ileum is also very long allowing for ample time for
digestion to be completed so that nutrients found in food can be released.
 Stage five – The undigested food material mainly cellulose, water and
mucous are passed into the Large Intestines where in the Colon water and
mineral salts are reabsorbed. The remaining mass is stored as faeces until it
is expelled through the Anus.