Q. 44.7( 3 Votes )
Discuss the role of hepato – pancreatic complex in digestion of carbohydrate, protein and fat components of food.
Answer :
The hepato – pancreatic complex plays a major role in the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Role of Liver: Liver secretes bile juice. Bile helps in emulsification of fats. Bile also provides alkaline medium which is useful for working of enzymes present in the small intestine.
Role of Pancreas: here pancreatic juice is secreted. The pancreatic juice contains inactive enzymes trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, procarboxypeptidases, amylases, lipases and nucleases. Trypsinogen is activated by an enzyme, enterokinase, (secreted by the intestinal mucosa) into active trypsin, which in turn activates the other enzymes in the pancreatic juice. Amylase digests carbohydrates and trypsin/chymotrypsin digests protein.
Pancreatic juice and bile are released through the hepato-pancreatic duct. The bile released into the duodenum contains bile pigments (billirubin and billiverdin), bile salts, cholesterol and phospholipids but no enzymes. Bile also activates lipases, which converts triglycerides into di and monoglycerides.
The action of hepato-pancreatic secretion on digestion on carbohydrate, proteins and fats are summarised below
(i) Carbohydrates in the chyme are hydrolysed by pancreatic amylase into disaccharides.
Polysaccharides (starch) 
Disaccharides
(ii) Fats are broken down by lipases with the help of bile into di and monoglycerides
Triglycerides 
Emulsified triglycerides 
diglycerides → Monoglycerides
(iii) Proteins in the chyme reaching the intestine are acted upon by the proteolytic enzymes of pancreatic juice.
Rate this question :
Rapid Quiz on Digestion58 mins
Revise Digestion and Absorption with Questions42 mins
FAQs on Digestive System57 mins
Learn Digestive System through Mindmap61 mins
Structure of Alimentary Canal61 mins
Master Glands of Alimentary Canal {Special}79 mins
Clear your concepts of Anatomical structure of Intestine53 mins
Target NEET 2021-2022 | Important Questions of NCERT Exemplar | Digestion & Absorption35 mins
NCERT Exemplar | Digestion & Absorption Part 225 mins
Digestion & Absorption | Quiz/Test Time35 mins
How is the intestinal mucosa protected from the acidic food entering from stomach?
Biology - ExemplarDiscuss the role of hepato – pancreatic complex in digestion of carbohydrate, protein and fat components of food.
Biology - ExemplarHow are the activities of gastro-intestinal tract regulated?
Biology - ExemplarWhat are three major types of cells found in the gastric glands? Name their secretions.
Biology - ExemplarDescribe the enzymatic action on fats in the duodenum.
Biology - ExemplarWhat is pancreas? Mention the major secretions of pancreas that are helpful in digestion.
Biology - ExemplarName the part of the alimentary canal where major absorption of digested food takes place. What are the absorbed forms of different kinds of food materials?
Biology - Exemplar
