Final answer:
Amylase is an enzyme that digests starch, initiating the digestion process in the mouth with saliva and continuing in the small intestine with pancreatic amylase.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amylase is an enzyme that is specialized in digesting starch. It is one of the many enzymes secreted in the body that aid in the process of digestion by breaking down larger molecules into smaller units that can be absorbed and used by the body. In particular, amylase breaks down starch molecules firstly into dextrins, then to maltose, and finally into glucose, which can be readily used as an energy source by our bodies. Amylase is present in our saliva, where it begins the process of carbohydrate digestion in the mouth and is also secreted by the pancreas as pancreatic amylase, which completes the breakdown of carbohydrates in the small intestine. As such, it plays an integral role in the digestive process by ensuring that carbohydrates are efficiently processed to release glucose, the simple sugar that is essential for providing energy to our cells.