Which of the following answer options describes how the body breaks down carbohyrdates?

• A. Mechanical breakdown in the mouth via chewing.
• B. Chemical breakdown in the mouth via salivary amylase.
• C. Chemical breakdown in the small intestine via pancreatic amylase.
• D. All of the above.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that carbohydrates are broken down through both mechanical and chemical processes in the digestive system.
2. Step 1: Mechanical breakdown begins in the mouth through chewing, which physically breaks down food into smaller pieces to increase the surface area for enzymes to act upon.
3. Step 2: Chemical breakdown also starts in the mouth, where salivary glands release salivary amylase, an enzyme that begins breaking down starches (a type of carbohydrate) into maltose and dextrins.
4. Step 3: In the small intestine, the pancreas secretes pancreatic amylase, which continues the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates into simpler sugars like maltose, lactose, and sucrose.
5. Step 4: These simpler sugars are further broken down by enzymes (maltase, lactase, and sucrase) in the small intestine into monosaccharides such as glucose, which can be absorbed into the bloodstream.