The digestion of food in human alimentary canal is a complex process. State the enzyme/salt present in the following and mention their function in the process of digestion :
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Model Answer
(i) Saliva:
Enzyme: Salivary amylase
Function: Breaks down starch (complex carbohydrate) into simple sugars.
(ii) Bile Juice:
Component: Bile salts (no enzyme)
Function: Makes the acidic food alkaline for pancreatic enzymes to act, and emulsifies large fat globules into smaller ones, increasing efficiency of enzyme action.
(iii) Pancreatic Juice:
Enzymes: Trypsin and Lipase
Function: Trypsin digests proteins; Lipase breaks down emulsified fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
Source: Chapter 5, Section 5.2.4 – Nutrition in Human Beings
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Explanation
- Bile juice has no enzyme — a common mistake. It contains bile salts that emulsify fats. Examiners specifically look for this distinction.
- For pancreatic juice, name both enzymes (trypsin + lipase) and state both functions to score full marks.
- The keyword for bile's role is emulsification — breaking large fat globules into smaller ones.
- Keep the format neat: name the enzyme/salt first, then its function — this matches the question's demand and makes awarding marks easy for the examiner.