Describehowthefollowingdisordersorconditionswouldinterferewiththedigestionand/or
ID: 72615 • Letter: D
Question
Describehowthefollowingdisordersorconditionswouldinterferewiththedigestionand/or absorption of polysaccharides, polypeptides and lipids:
A disorder that inhibits amylase secretion in the saliva.
Taking a large dose of a drug that reduces stomach acid by inhibiting proton pumps.
A disorder that impairs pancreatic HCO3- secretion.
A disorder that impairs pancreatic enzyme secretion.
A gallstone prevents any bile in the liver or gallbladder from entering the duodenum.
Aldosterone levels decrease substantially.
Explanation / Answer
Salivary amylase is the enzyme that is involved in partial digestion of carbohydrates. In the absence of salivary amylase the partial digestion in the mouth is not held. Thus, the entire carbohydrates have to be digested only in the small intestine.
The acid produced in the stomach is hydrochloric acid through the parietal cells of stomach. The HCl is involved in killing the microorganisms (pathogens). It dissolves many of the foods. It also provides acidic environment for enzymatic action such as pepsin that is involved in breakdown of proteins. If the acid production is affected, then protein digestion in the stomach is affected.
The bicarbonate regulates the pH in the small intestine. It neutralizes the acidic pH of the food that is passed from stomach into small intestine. The enzymes in the small intestine function at alkaline pH. In the absence of bicarbonate, the digestion of different nutrients in the small intestine is not possible. The digestion starts in mouth and ends in small intestine. The different nutrients digested in small intestine are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Pancreas is a mixed gland that produces pancreatic juice, which is released into small intestine. The enzymes that are present in pancreatic juice are pancreatic amylase, lipase, and proteases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin. The absence of pancreatic juice results in incomplete digestion and all the nutrients are excreted out as waste by the body.
The bile juice is produced by the liver and is released into the small intestine. It is involved in emulsification of fats where large globules of fat are converted to small globules. In the absence of bile, the fat becomes indigestible.
The aldosterone regulates the levels of sodium and potassium in the saliva. In the absence, of aldosterone the levels of sodium and potassium are high and it effects the pH, thus action of salivary enzyme is disrupted