Final answer:
Salivary amylase in the mouth begins breaking down carbohydrates, which is continued by pancreatic amylase in the small intestine, resulting in the production of glucose for absorption.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbohydrates such as amylose and glycogen are broken down by salivary amylase in the mouth and pancreatic amylase in the small intestine. In the mouth, salivary amylase starts to digest these polysaccharides into shorter chains and disaccharides such as maltose.
This enzymatic action continues until it is deactivated in the acidic environment of the stomach. In the small intestine, particularly in the duodenum, pancreatic amylase continues the breakdown process to produce maltose from the remaining starch and glycogen. Together with other brush border enzymes like maltases, sucrases, and lactases, maltose is further broken down into monosaccharides glucose, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream to be utilized by the body's cells.