Final answer:
Carbohydrate digestion begins with salivary amylase in the mouth and continues in the small intestine where enzymes like maltase break down sugars, leading to absorption of monosaccharides.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked about the beginning of carbohydrate digestion, which is primarily focused on monosaccharides. Carbohydrate digestion starts with salivary amylase in the mouth, where this enzyme begins to break down starches, such as amylose, into smaller polysaccharides and disaccharides. As the digestion continues, especially when the food bolus reaches the small intestine, pancreatic amylase takes over and further breaks down these carbohydrates. The digestive juices in the small intestine, particularly enzymes like maltase, sucrase, and lactase present in the brush border, split the specific α-glycosidic bonds in these sugars. This leads to the formation of monosaccharides like glucose, which can then be absorbed through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream.