3B Scientific The Digestive System Chart - Manual (Page 5)

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3. Small Intestine
The wall of the small intestine produces enzymes, the most important of wh ich are: Peptidases,
which affects superior and inferior peptides - Maltase, an assential ferment that splits disaccharides -
Enterokinase, which activates the production of trypsin from trypsinogen.
Together with the intestinal enzym, the latter breaks up the albumines into amino acids. The pancreatic
juice also contains lipase, an enzyme which breaks up neutral fats to glycerine and free fatty acids, and also
the enzyme amylase which breaks up carbohydrates to disaccharides. These are split into monosaccharides
by the maltase, saccharase and lactase, the enzymes of the small intestine. Cholic acids in the bile emulsify
fats and precipitate their digestion. Dissolved substances are chiefly absorbed in the upper and middle sec-
tions of the small intestine.
4. Colon
Direct digestive processes do not continue in the colon, but the major part of the water taken in with the
food is absorbed here. Bacterial decomposition and fermentation proceed in the colon, together with the
important synthesis of vitamin K. Total utilization of food is about 80 to 95 % - with a breakdown showing:
fat to about 95 %
protein to about 85 to 90 %
carbohydrates to about 98 %
Digestion