Gastrointestinal Tract Questions and Answers PDF Related

Review Gastrointestinal Tract Questions and Answers PDF related questions and content

Where does the chemical digestion of starch begin?

  • A. mouth
  • B. esophagus
  • C. stomach
  • D. small intestine
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: mouth. Chemical digestion of starch begins in the mouth with the enzyme amylase present in saliva. Amylase breaks down starch into maltose. This process initiates the breakdown of complex carbohydrates into simple sugars for absorption. In contrast, the esophagus is not involved in digestion, the stomach primarily performs mechanical and protein digestion, and the small intestine is where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients occur, but not where the initial digestion of starch begins.