Give the name of the enzyme present in the fluid in our mouth cavity. State the gland which produces it. What would happen to the digestion process if this gland stops secreting this enzyme ?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-11 09:47 · grounding rag
Model Answer
The enzyme present in saliva (the fluid in the mouth cavity) is salivary amylase. It is produced by the salivary glands.
If the salivary glands stop secreting this enzyme, starch would not be broken down into simple sugars in the mouth. Digestion of carbohydrates would be delayed, beginning only from the small intestine.
Source: Life Processes, Section 5.2.4
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Explanation
- The question has three parts — name the enzyme, name the gland, state the consequence — so address all three clearly.
- "Salivary amylase" and "salivary glands" are the exact terms from the textbook; use them.
- For the consequence, note that starch digestion would not begin in the mouth, but it is not completely stopped (pancreatic amylase in the small intestine can still act) — so say digestion is delayed/incomplete at this stage, not fully absent.