How and where does sucrose undergo digestion in the body? Name the products.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Sucrose digestion begins in the small intestine, where the enzyme sucrase (also known as invertase) is secreted by the cells lining the intestinal wall.
2. Sucrase catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose into its two monosaccharide components. This reaction involves breaking the glycosidic bond between glucose and fructose in sucrose.
3. The chemical reaction can be represented as: $C_{12}{H}_{22}{O}_{11}+H_{2}O\to C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6+C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6$, where sucrose reacts with water to produce glucose and fructose.
4. The monosaccharides, glucose and fructose, are absorbed through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream. Glucose is transported via active transport, while fructose is absorbed through facilitated diffusion.
5. Once in the bloodstream, glucose and fructose are transported to cells throughout the body, where they can be used for energy production through cellular respiration or stored for later use.

Key Concepts

Digestion of Sucrose

Sucrose, a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, undergoes digestion primarily in the small intestine. The enzyme sucrase, produced by the intestinal lining, hydrolyzes sucrose into its monosaccharide components. This process is crucial for the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream.

Enzymatic Action

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body. In the case of sucrose digestion, sucrase is the specific enzyme that facilitates the breakdown of sucrose into glucose and fructose. Understanding enzymatic action is essential for grasping how nutrients are processed in the digestive system.

Absorption of Sugars

Once sucrose is digested into glucose and fructose, these monosaccharides are absorbed through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream. This absorption occurs primarily in the jejunum, a part of the small intestine. The efficient absorption of these sugars is vital for providing energy to the body's cells.