Life: The Science of Biology 11th Edition

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1-31901-016-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-31901-016-4

Chapter 50 - Nutrition, Digestion, and Absorption - 50.3 - The Vertebrate Gastrointestinal System Is a Disassembly Line - 50.3 Recap - Learning Outcomes - Page 1085: 1

Answer

Salivary glands secrete amylase in the mouth, which helps break down carbohydrates. Chewing is a form of mechanical digestion that breaks down the food material into smaller particles, thus increasing the surface area to volume ratio. In the stomach, chief cells secrete pepsinogen, which is activated into pepsin and digests proteins. This conversion occurs under conditions of low pH.

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