Final answer:
The salivary glands produce saliva that contains salivary amylase, which is responsible for initiating the digestion of starches in the mouth. This enzyme breaks starches down into smaller sugars such as maltose, which further degrade into glucose as digestion continues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The salivary glands in the mouth produce saliva, which contains an important enzyme called salivary amylase. This enzyme specializes in the breakdown of starches, beginning the process of digestion as soon as food enters the mouth. Salivary amylase quickly gets to work by cleaving the glycosidic linkages in starch molecules to produce smaller sugar molecules such as maltose and eventually glucose after further digestion.
The presence of amylase in saliva also serves several critical functions:
- Moisten and lubricate the lining of the mouth and pharynx.
- Moisten, soften, and dissolve food.
- Clean the mouth and teeth.
This enzymatic activity is not limited to the mouth; as the food is swallowed and passes down the esophagus, amylase continues to act on the starch. However, once the food reaches the acidic environment of the stomach, the activity of salivary amylase is stopped, as the enzyme is inactivated by stomach acid.