Digestive glands play a role to produce various digestive enzymes. The enzymes produced by the digestive glands are needed to help the process of digestion of food, so it is more easily absorbed by the body.
In general, the process of digestion of food will be assisted by a group of enzymes produced by the digestive glands. This digestive enzyme has a role to break down the nutrients contained in food and convert it into a simple form, so that it can be absorbed by the body.
Various Digestive Glands
The following are various glands included in the digestive glands:
1. Salivary glands
The main function of the salivary glands is to produce saliva. Besides producing saliva, this gland also plays a role in producing digestive enzymes, such as lysozyme, lingual lipase, and amylase. Salivary glands are located in almost all parts of the mouth, starting at the top of the cheeks, under the lower jaw, and under the tongue.
2. Stomach
Aside from being a place to store food from the esophagus, the stomach also has another function, namely releasing enzymes that can help the digestive process. Digestive enzymes released by the stomach, including pepsin, lipase, hydrochloric acid (HCI), and gastrin.
3. Pancreas gland
The gland that also plays a role in producing digestive enzymes is the pancreas gland. Digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas gland include lipases, amylases, protases, and trypsin.
4. Small intestine
The small intestine also participates in releasing a group of enzymes that are useful for facilitating the process of breaking down food and helping to absorb nutrients. Digestive enzymes produced by the small intestine are maltase, sucrase, and lactase.
5. Bile gland
The bile gland also plays an important role in the process of digestion of food. Although it does not produce digestive enzymes, the bile glands secrete hormones that are useful for helping the process of diluting fat in food.
Digestive Enzymes and Their Functions
In general, there are many enzymes that play a role in carrying out the process of digestion of food in the human body. However, there are three main enzymes that are responsible for breaking down food.
Here are three main digestive enzymes that you need to know about:
Amylase
Amylase is an enzyme whose function is to break down starches or carbohydrates into sugar (glucose). There are two types of amylase enzymes, namely ptialin and the pancreas.
Ptialin amylase is an enzyme released by the salivary glands to destroy sugar when it is still in the oral cavity until it enters the stomach. Meanwhile, pancreatic amylase is an enzyme that is responsible for continuing the work of ptialin by digesting sugar entering the small intestine.
Lipase
Lipase is an enzyme whose function is to break down fats from the food you consume into fatty acids and glycerol. Lipase enzymes can be produced by the digestive glands in the mouth, stomach and pancreas. Besides being produced by the digestive glands, the enzyme lipase is also found in breast milk (ASI) to facilitate the baby digesting fat molecules.
Protease
Protease is a digestive enzyme whose job is to break down protein in food into amino acids. Protease enzymes can be produced in the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. However, some chemical reactions occur in the stomach and small intestine.
Without the help of enzymes produced by the digestive glands, food cannot be converted into energy needed by the body. Therefore, you need to take care of his health. Immediately consult a doctor if you experience digestive problems that may be caused by disorders of the digestive gland in producing enzymes.
