Digestion in Stomach
Digestion of Proteins: Protein is essential for the growth and replenishment of body cells and tissues. Protein digestion takes place in the stomach with the help of protease and pepsin enzymes, which is responsible for the breakdown of proteins into amino acids. The process is aided by the HCl(Hydrochloric acid) present in the stomach.
Digestion of Lipids: Lipids are water-insoluble, organic compounds consisting of fatty acids. The most familiar instance of Lipids is fats. The insolubility of lipids makes it complicated to digest and absorb fats.
Fats are broken down with the help of bile juice, which comprises bile salts. The broken molecules are then acted upon by pancreatic lipase which is the main fat-absorbing enzyme after that pancreatic lipase breaks down the fats into tiny molecules of free fatty acids and monoglycerides.
Action of Gastric Juice: The stomach normally stocks the food for 4-5 hours. The stomach’s gastric glands secrete gastric juice. It includes Hydrochloric acid and proenzymes such as pepsinogen and prorenin. Hydrochloric acid is known to maintain a strongly acidic pH of about 1.5 to 2.5 in the stomach. The pH of infants’ gastric juice is 5.0. HCI destroys bacteria and other injurious organisms that may be present along with food. HCI converts pepsinogen and prorenin into pepsin and rennin respectively.
Once the pepsin formation occurs it changes pepsinogen into pepsin. Such activation is called an auto–catalytic reaction. Pepsin and rennin are absent in invertebrates. Gastric juice is absolutely mixed with food till it becomes a semifluid mass known as chyme. Various reactions are summarized below.
Digestion Of Food
Food is a substance taken from outside that nourishes the body, builds tissues, and supplies energy. Essential components of our food are mainly carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Vitamins and minerals are also needed in small quantities. Water plays a crucial role in metabolic processes and also prohibits dehydration of the body. Our body cannot utilize biomolecules in food in their original form hence they have to be converted into simple substances in the digestive system.
Digestion is known as the process of conversion of complex food substances into simple absorbable forms. The digestive system carries out the latter through mechanical and biochemical methods. Absorption is the process by which nutrients pass from the alimentary canal into blood and lymph through its mucosa. The absorbed food materials are carried by blood and lymph. The lymph is finally moved to the blood circulation. The blood transports absorbed food materials to different tissues where food materials are utilized for various activities like energy, growth, and repair. This process is called assimilation.
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