AP PSYCHOLOGY

BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR

THE NERVOUS AND ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What does saliva do?
A
Chemically digests food in the mouth.
B
Chemically digests food in the stomach
C
Protects the stomach from digesting iteself
D
Absorbs nutrients from food so the body has energy.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Saliva contains special enzymes that help digest the starches in your food. An enzyme called amylase breaks down starches (complex carbohydrates) into sugars, which your body can more easily absorb. Saliva also contains an enzyme called lingual lipase, which breaks down fats.

Detailed explanation-2: -Chemical digestion in the mouth is minor but consists of salivary amylase (ptyalin, or alpha-amylase) and lingual lipase, both contained in the saliva. Salivary amylase is chemically identical to pancreatic amylase and digests starch into maltose and maltotriose, working at a pH optimum of 6.7 to 7.0.

Detailed explanation-3: -Your salivary glands make saliva, a digestive juice, which moistens food so it moves more easily through your esophagus into your stomach. Saliva also has an enzyme that begins to break down starches in your food. Esophagus. After you swallow, peristalsis pushes the food down your esophagus into your stomach.

Detailed explanation-4: -Saliva contains a digestive enzyme called salivary amylase, which breaks down starch into sugar. Saliva has many functions in the digestion process as follows: It is used to lubricate the mouth. It helps to swallow the food.

There is 1 question to complete.