ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -The goal of carbohydrate digestion is to break down all disaccharides and complex carbohydrates into monosaccharides for absorption, although not all are completely absorbed in the small intestine (e.g., fiber). Digestion begins in the mouth with salivary amylase released during the process of chewing.

Detailed explanation-2: -The mouth You begin to digest carbohydrates the minute the food hits your mouth. The saliva secreted from your salivary glands moistens food as it’s chewed. Saliva releases an enzyme called amylase, which begins the breakdown process of the sugars in the carbohydrates you’re eating.

Detailed explanation-3: -Digestion of Carbohydrates Digestion of starches into glucose molecules starts in the mouth, but primarily takes place in the small intestine by the action of specific enzymes secreted from the pancreas (e.g. -amylase and -glucosidase).

Detailed explanation-4: -From the Mouth to the Stomach Saliva contains the enzyme, salivary amylase. This enzyme breaks the bonds between the monomeric sugar units of disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and starches. The salivary amylase breaks down amylose and amylopectin into smaller chains of glucose, called dextrins and maltose.

Detailed explanation-5: -Carbohydrate digestion begins in the mouth with the mechanical action of chewing and the chemical action of salivary amylase. Carbohydrates are not chemically broken down in the stomach, but rather in the small intestine.