BRAINCAKEThe Digestive System
The digestive system is a long muscular tube into which glands secrete hydrolytic enzymes, chemicals to maintain the pH for the enzymes to work such as hydrochloric acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate and other substances such as bile to emulsify fats to aid their digestion.
The mouth is called the oral cavity. Salivary glands near the mouth secrete saliva into the mouth. Saliva has a pH of 7 and contains the enzyme salivary amylase which hydrolyses starch to maltose.
The oesophagus is a long, muscular tube that pushes food from the mouth to the stomach through a muscular action called peristalsis.
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Key terms in this lesson
- hydrolysis
- The breaking of a covalent bond within a molecule using a water molecule.
- peristalsis
- Waves of muscular contraction that push food along the gut.
- endopeptidase
- A protease enzyme that hydrolyses peptide bonds within the centre of a polypeptide chain.
- exopeptidase
- A protease enzyme that hydrolyses peptide bonds at the end of a polypeptide chain, releasing single amino acids.
- dipeptidase
- A membrane-bound enzyme, found on the epithelial cells of the ileum, that hydrolyses dipeptides into single amino acids.
More in Digestion
- Digestion
- Carbohydrate Digestion
- Lipid Digestion
- Protein Digestion
- Structure of the Ileum
- Absorption of Amino Acids
- Absorption of Monosaccharides
- Absorption of Triglycerides
All 10 lessons in Digestion · All AQA AS-level Biology topics