Question

Discuss the role of hepatic – pancreatic complex in digestion of carbohydrate, protein and fat components of food.

Answer 1

The carbohydrates, proteins and fats are mainly digested in the Hepato-pancreatic complex.

Role of Liver: The primary function of the liver is to produce bile juice. Bile does not comprise any enzymes. However, it is essential for digestion. Bile aids in the emulsification of lipids, making fat digestion simpler. Bile offers a suitable alkaline environment for the proper functioning of the small intestine,

Role of Pancreas: Pancreatic juice, which includes inactive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, nuclease, trypsinogen, and chymotrypsinogen, is secreted by the pancreas. Enterokinase, an enzyme released by the intestinal mucosa, converts trypsinogen to active trypsin. Other enzymes in the pancreatic juice are then activated by trypsin. Trypsin/chymotrypsin breakdown proteins, while amylase digests carbs. Lipase is an enzyme that breakdowns down triglycerides into diglycerides and monoglycerides.

                                        Hepato-pancreatic complex

The conversions occurring in the Hepato-pancreatic complex are as follows:

Carbohydrate digestion:

\[\ce{Polysaccharides ->[Pancreatic Amylase] Disaccharides}\]

Protein digestion:

\[\ce{Proteins, peptones, proteoses ->[Try sin / Chymotryp sin][Carboxypetidase] Dipeptides}\]

Fat digestion:

\[\ce{Fats ->[Lipase] Diglycerides -> Monoglycerides}\]