Discuss the role of hepatopancreatic complex in the digestion of carbohydrate, protein and fat components of food.
The hepatopancreatic complex plays a major role in the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats
The liver secretes bile juice. Bile helps in emulsification of fats. Bile also provides an alkaline medium which is useful for working of enzymes present in the small intestine.The pancreatic juice contains inactive enzymes trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, procarboxypeptidases, amylases, lipases and nucleases. Trypsinogen is activated by an enzyme, enterokinase.
The action of hepato-pancreatic secretion on digestion on carbohydrate, proteins and fats:
(i) Carbohydrates in the chyme are hydrolysed by pancreatic amylase into disaccharides.
Polysaccharides (starch) → Disaccharides (in the presence of amylase)
(ii) Fats are broken down by lipases with the help of bile into di and monoglycerides
Triglycerides→ Emulsified triglycerides → diglycerides ( in the presence of lipase)→ Monoglycerides
(iii) Proteins in the chyme reaching the intestine are acted upon by the proteolytic enzymes of pancreatic juice.