Digestion of Starch (Cambridge International IGCSE Biology)

Digestion of starch: Extended

Spec point — Describe the digestion of starch in the digestive system: (a) amylase breaks down starch to maltose (b) maltase breaks down maltose to glucose on the membranes of the epithelium lining the small intestine

Digestion of starch: Extended

Extended Tier Only

• Amylases are produced in the mouth and the pancreas (secreted into the duodenum)
• Amylases digest starch into smaller sugars

The digestion of starch

• Amylase is secreted into the alimentary canal in the mouth and the duodenum (from the pancreas) and digests starch to maltose (a disaccharide)
• Maltose is digested by the enzyme maltase into glucose on the membranes of the epithelium lining of the small intestine