Describe the process of carbohydrate digestion in human beings.

K.C.S.E Biology Q & A - MODEL 2014PP2QN07

Describe the process of carbohydrate digestion in human beings.

answers

​In the mouth;

• Food is chewed; to increase surface area for enzyme activity/saliva contains salivary amylase;
• Saliva mixes with food and provides an alkaline medium; for amylase enzymes;
• Salivary amylase acts on starch and converts them to maltose;

In duodenum;

• Food is mixed with bile; and pancreatic juice;
• Bile provides alkaline medium; for activity of duodenal enzymes; and neutralizes acidic
• chyme from the stomach;
• Pancreatic juice contains pancreatic amylase; which converts starch to maltose;
  

In the Ileum;

• Epithelial cells in Ileum secrete succus entericus; which contains enzymes;
• sucrase; which acts on sucrose and converts it to fructose and glucose;
• Lactase; which acts on lactose and converts it to galactose and glucose;
• Maltase; acts on maltose and converts it to glucose;