Steps of Carbohydrate Digestion

Step 21

High concentrations of sugar in the blood stimulate insulin producing cells in the pancreas and insulin is released. Insulin accelerates the uptake of glucose and encourages excess to be made into glycogen which is stored in the liver and muscle cells. This is an endocrine function.

Step 9

Pancreatic amylase acts upon starch molecules and cuts them into oligosaccharides. Muscle contraction continue to move the oligosaccharides through the jejunum and into the ilium. Here the plasma membrane of the submucosa layer of the villi release enzymes into the lemon of ilium.

Step 6

Excess release of acid chime would denature/destroy the enzymes in the duodenum. It would also burn the tissue of the duodenum due to the lack of mucus to protect the cells, so just the right amounts are let out.

Step 17

Fructose and galactose are converted by the liver into glucose and released into the blood stream and carried to your cells to be stored as energy in the form of glycogen molecules.

Step 12

Glucoamylase and dextranase cleave oligosaccharides into disaccharides

Step 16

Glucose, fructose, and galactose are small enough to be absorbed into the blood stream and taken to the liver to be produced

Step 18

Glycogen is stored as a quick energy in the form of a branching starch molecule. Glucose is soluble in water, so in order to keep this energy form in the cell, it makes a starch molecule by dehydration synthesis. The larger starch, the less soluble it is and the cell can hold its energy for future use.

Step 2

Saliva contains and enzyme called Salivary Amylase which converts starch into oligosaccharides. The bolus of food do not stay in the mouth long enough for salivary amylase to break down all starches. Amylase does not act upon disaccharides and monosaccharides.

Step 22

Too much blood sugar is hyperglycemia

Step 7

Acid chime stimulates receptors cells of the duodenum which releases Secretin which targets the pancreas to release bicarbonate ion through the pancreatic duct to neutralize the acidity of the chime in the duodenum. This is an exocrine function of the pancreas.

Step 20

Branching allows for a larger number of glucose molecules to be hydrolyzed and combined with oxygen to create ATP quickly. The process of creating ATP in respiration.

Step 1

Carbohydrate digestion begins prior to the food entering the mouth when sight and smell of food stimulates the release of Saliva from the salivary glands. Teeth masticate food. Tongue manipulates food. Saliva creates a ball of food called a bolus.

Step 25

Diabetics cannot produce glucagon. This means that they must digest simple sugar or utilize injections.

Step 24

Hypoglycemia occurs if blood sugar levels are too low. When this happens the hormone glucagon targets the liver and it releases glucose.

Step 23

If the pancreas cannot produce insulin it can lead to shock if untreated. With diabetes insulin injections are necessary to regulate blood sugar, and blood sugar must be monitored

Step 15

Lactose is cleaved by Lactase into Glucose and galactose

Step 14

Maltose is cleaved by maltose into two glucose molecules

Step 19

Muscle cells and liver cells store large amount of glycogen. This is our bodies energy reserve.

Step 4

Stomach acid/pH is so strong, it denatures the salivary amylase, therefore there is no carbo digestion in the stomach. The only role of carb digestion of the stomach is to churn food into an acid paste called chyme.

Step 13

Sucrose is cleaved by surcease into to Glucose and molecules

Step 3

Swallowing is both voluntary and involuntary. Tongue food manipulation into the back of the throat is voluntary. Once food hits the Uvula, swallowing becomes involuntary and food is moved through the esophagus by the way of peristalsis( wave like contractions of the muscles to move food in one direction.)

Step 11

The Brush Boarder enzymes are glucoamylase, dextranase, intestinal Maltese, intestinal sucrase, and intestinal lactase

Step 10

The absorptive columnar cells of the plasma membrane have microvilli which resembles and form the Brush Boarder. Brush Boarder enzymes are released by the plasma membrane to continue with carbohydrate digestion.

Step 26

The regulation of glucose levels is by a negative feedback system involving the pancreas. The hormones insulin and glucagon are responsible for regulating blood sugar levels.

Step 5

The release of the acid paste/chime out of the stomach is regulated by the pyloric valve. The release of acids must be carefully controlled so too much is not released by the pyloric valve into the duodenum.

Step 8

When acid is neutralized, enzymes can be acted upon by other digestive enzymes and continue the process of digestion. Fat and protein in the chyme that has been neutralized stimulates other receptor cells in the duodenum and causes the secretion of a hormone called cholecystokinin which targets Acinar cells in the pancreas and stimulates them to secrete Pancreatic Amylace. P.A. goes through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum, making the pancreas an accessory organ and a exocrine gland.