Question

Digestion of starch takes place in
A)Stomach and duodenum
B)Buccal cavity and small intestine
C)Buccal cavity and oesophagus
D)Duodenum only

Answer 1

Hint: Digestion of starch begins in mouth. The enzymes salivary amylase and pancreatic amylases are involved in digestion of starch.

Complete answer:
Digestion of carbohydrates:
The primary purpose of the digestion of carbohydrates is to break up monosaccharides from polysaccharides and disaccharides, which can be absorbed into the bloodstream. In the digestive tract, starch in food is broken down into glucose molecules (enzymatically digested). Saliva is secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth, helping to moisten the food. The food is then chewed as the salivary glands also release the salivary amylase enzyme, which starts the process in the carbohydrate food to break down the polysaccharides. But this operation in the small intestine, which digests carbohydrates, is far less essential than that of pancreatic amylase. Therefore, starch digestion takes place in the oral or the buccal cavity and the small intestine.

Let us analyze the options to find out the correct option.
Option A: Starch is not digested by amylase in stomach as the pH there is unsuitable for activity of amylase. Therefore, this is the correct option.
Options C and D: These are incorrect options.
Option B: Buccal cavity and small intestine is the correct option.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B)

Note: 1.Starch is a polysaccharide and is composed of glucose monomers.
2.It makes up about 60 % of carbohydrates that is consumed by humans.
3.Pancreas produce enzyme amylase which is useful for breakdown of starch.