Discuss the main steps in the digestion | Class 11 Biology Chapter Digestion and Absorption, Digestion and Absorption NCERT Solutions

Question:

Discuss the main steps in the digestion of proteins as the food passes through different parts of the alimentary canal.

Answer:

The digestion of proteins begins in the stomach and is completed in the small intestine. The enzymes that act on proteins are known as proteases.

Digestion in the stomach:

The digestive juice secreted in the gastric glands present on the stomach walls is called gastric juice. The main components of gastric juice are HCl, pepsinogen, and rennin. The food that enters the stomach becomes acidic on mixing with this gastric juice.

The acidic medium converts inactive pepsinogen into active pepsin. The active pepsin then converts proteins into proteases and peptides.

Proteins Pepsin Proteoses + Peptides

The enzyme rennin plays an important role in the coagulation of milk.

Digestion in the small intestine:

The food from the stomach is acted upon by three juices present in the small intestine – pancreatic juice and intestinal juice (known as succus entericus).

Action of pancreatic juice

Pancreatic juice contains a variety of inactive enzymes such as trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, and carboxypeptidases. The enzymes are present in an inactivated state. The enzyme enterokinase secreted by the intestinal mucosa activates trypsinogen into trypsin.

TrypsinogenEnterokinaseTrypsin + Inactive peptide

The activated trypsin then activates the other enzymes of pancreatic juice.

Chymotrypsinogen is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks down proteins into peptides.

Chymotrypsinogen Trypsin Chymotrypsin

ProteinsChymotrypsin Peptides

Carboxypeptidases act on the carboxyl end of the peptide chain and help in releasing the last amino acids.

PeptidesChymotrypsin-PeptidesSmaller peptide chain + Amino acids

Action of bile juice

Bile juice has bile salts such as bilirubin and biliverdin which break down large, fat globules into smaller globules so that pancreatic enzymes can easily act on them. This process is known as emulsification of fats. Bile juice also makes the medium alkaline and activates lipase. Lipase then breaks down fats into diglycerides and monoglycerides.

Action of intestinal juice

Intestinal juice contains a variety of enzymes. Pancreatic amylase digests polysaccharides into disaccharides. Disaccharidases such as maltase, lactase, sucrase, etc., further digest the disaccharides.

The proteases hydrolyse peptides into dipeptides and finally into amino acids.

Dipeptides Amino acids

Pancreatic lipase breaks down fats into diglycerides and monoglycerides.

The nucleases break down nucleic acids into nucleotides and nucleosides.


Study Tips for Answering NCERT Questions:

NCERT questions are designed to test your understanding of the concepts and theories discussed in the chapter. Here are some tips to help you answer NCERT questions effectively:

  • Read the question carefully and focus on the core concept being asked.
  • Reference examples and data from the chapter when answering questions about Digestion and Absorption.
  • Review previous year question papers to get an idea of how such questions may be framed in exams.
  • Practice answering questions within the time limit to improve your speed and accuracy.
  • Discuss your answers with your teachers or peers to get feedback and improve your understanding.

Comments

  • Ekta
  • 2020-07-19 19:48:55

Thank you so much for this answer It is really helpful for us


  • Arsh
  • 2019-11-09 12:06:31

Good but so lengthy answer please make it small and in points as 1,2,3


  • Jj
  • 2019-08-11 21:28:50

Its too long but really nice one😀😀


  • Yogesh hero
  • 2019-07-29 21:29:07

Good answer


  • Gulam Mohiddin
  • 2019-05-13 11:00:41

It is very helpful for the board exam


  • Dipankar singh
  • 2019-03-15 02:02:56

This can be try at once


  • Astha verma
  • 2019-02-09 22:20:16

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  • Richard
  • 2019-01-14 21:34:34

Clear and open answers


  • Riya
  • 2019-01-02 12:41:24

Tq it's help me 4 exam


  • Bhuuven
  • 2018-12-11 21:55:41

a small mistake. bile does not play any role in protein digestion


Comment(s) on this Question

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology - Chapter . This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Excercise 1 , Question 12: Discuss the main steps in the digestion of proteins as the food passes through different parts of th....