What is an enzyme found in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine? What is the function of this enzyme?
1 Answer
There are more than one enzyme found in the digestive system.
Explanation:
The Oral Cavity has limited digestion of carbohydrates and lipids (amylase and lipase).
The Tongue is involved in secretion of mucins and the enzyme lingual lipase (breaks down some fats).
The parotid salivary glands produce a serous secretion containing large amounts of salivary amylase (carbohydrates).
The submandibular salivary glands secrete a mixture of buffers, glycoproteins called mucins, and salivary amylase.
The primary function of the esophagus is to convey solid food and liquids to the stomach.
Parietal cells in the stomach secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) which break bonds between compounds.
Other cells produce intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein whose presence in the digestive tract is required for the absorption of vitamin B12in the small intestine.
Chief cells in the stomach secrete pepsinogen which is converted by the acid in the gastric lumen to pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins.
The pylorus is a part of the stomach that produces gastrin. The pyloric glands also contain D cells, which release somatostatin, a hormone that inhibits the release of gastrin.
The mucosa of the small intestine produces only a few enzymes. Intestinal glands also contain enteroendocrine cells
responsible for the production of several intestinal hormones, including gastrin, cholecystokinin, and secretin.
