Question

If the mouth has enzymes to digest starch, what are the functions of other enzymes in the digestive tract?

Answer 1

Digestive enzymes are molecules that are secreted by the salivary glands and cells that line the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine to help with food digestion. They achieve this by breaking down the huge, complex molecules that make up proteins, carbs, and lipids (macronutrients), allowing nutrients from these foods to be absorbed and transported throughout the body more easily.

Complete answer:
Amylase, maltase, and lactase in the mouth digest carbohydrates. When you chew, saliva is secreted by glands in your mouth and throat. The sight or smell of food can trigger this process. The beverage stimulates digestion, moisturises the mouth, minimises mouth and throat infections, and protects your teeth and gums.
There are three major pairs of salivary glands in your body: The parotid glands, which are the largest, are located in front of your ears on both sides of your face. Underneath your jawbone are glands called submandibular glands. The sublingual glands are located beneath the tongue.
Smaller clusters of salivary glands can also be found in your upper digestive tract and oesophagus. Saliva contains enzymes that aid in the digestion of carbs in your diet. Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starches (complex carbohydrates) into sugars that your body can absorb more easily. Saliva also contains lingual lipase, an enzyme that breaks down lipids.
Food enters your oesophagus after you chew and swallow it. The tube that links your throat to your stomach is known as the oesophagus tube. Peristalsis is a series of muscular contractions that pulls food downward and into your stomach. It then combines with more digestive enzymes to complete the breakdown.
Pepsinogen, an inactive protease released by main cells in the stomach tissue, is secreted and subsequently activated by stomach acid when food reaches the stomach. Pepsin is a digestive enzyme that helps break down proteins into polypeptide chains. It also helps to free up important vitamins like vitamin B12.
The pancreas secretes various digestive enzymes once partially digested food enters the gut to completely break down everything else:
Where salivary amylase stopped off, pancreatic amylase picks up where salivary amylase left off, breaking down any residual starches.
Trypsin and chymotrypsin are pancreatic proteases that pick up where pepsin leaves off and break down polypeptides into individual amino acids.
The fat is broken down by pancreatic lipase. It's worth noting that bile is crucial to this process since without it, the fat won't be properly solvated, and the lipases won't be able to break it down as efficiently.
The specific carbohydrates, amino acids, and fatty acids are next absorbed in the small intestine.

Note:-
Deficiencies in digestive enzymes have been linked to a number of health problems, particularly those that impact the pancreas, which secretes numerous important enzymes. Dietary adjustments, such as eliminating certain meals or adding those containing naturally occurring digestive enzymes, or using prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) enzyme supplements, can often correct these deficits.