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No, the small intestine do not need an acidic environment in order to work. Acid works in stomach to partially digest the food. In the small intestines, fats are digested using bile from the gallbladder which is not acidic.

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8y ago

The enzymes of the small intestine need an alkaline environment to work. The gastric enzymes require an acidic environment.

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Q: Do enzymes in the small intestine need an acidic environment in order to work?
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What effect do enzymes in the intestine have on protein?

Once you digest food the enzymes in the intestine will digest the nutrients into small components. So that they could be absorbed by the intestine into the bloodstream, and throughout the body in order to be reused by the body cells.


How do the intestines work?

The small intestine is where most chemical digestion takes place. Most of the digestive enzymes that act in the small intestine are secreted by the pancreas and enter the small intestine via the pancreatic duct. The enzymes enter the small intestine in response to the hormone cholecystokinin, which is produced in the small intestine in response to the presence of nutrients. The hormone secretin also causes bicarbonate to be released into the small intestine from the pancreas in order to neutralize the potentially harmful acid coming from the stomach.


How does acid in the stomach kill bacteria?

The stomach acid makes the stomach a particularly hostile environment for bacteria. It is an too acidic an environment for most microorganisms to survive. In addition there are proteases that will digest most cells.


Witch acid is used to digest food in the stomach?

Pepsin, which digests protein in the stomach, requires an acidic environment in order to work properly. Hydrochloric acid is stored in the stomach so that pepsin has a good environment to work in.


When nutrients leave the stomach in what order do they move through the small intestine?

When food leaves the stomach it first goes through the small intestine. It goes in the same order as it leaves the stomach. The first part of the small intestine is called the duodenum. It changes the digestive fluid from the acidic fluid of the stomach to alkaline. After that it goes through the rest of the small intestine. Nutrients that have become small enough are absorbed by the small intestine through small projections or villi. Food that leaves the small intestine goes into the large intestine. There bacteria digests part of it and makes part of it available for the human. The food part then passes through the very thin large intestine wall. The food digested in the small and large intestines go from there to the liver.


Why is an acidic environment in the stomach beneficial?

In order for the body to be able to limit digestive proteins' functionality to the stomach, digestive proteins are made so that they can only function in extremely acidic environments. Stomach acidity is the body's way of satisfying this requirement.


If the food passing in stomach does the food go first in large intestine or in small intestine?

The order is as follows: Stomach, small intestine, large intestine.


Does homeostasis effect pH?

It does, because pH needs to be regulated in order to keep enzymes at an optimum rate of reaction. They can be denatured by extremes in pH. The blood pH is made more acidic by carbon dioxide. This is caused by increased metabolic rate in the body, since carbon dioxide is a waste product of respiration. This would make the blood too acidic, and denature enzymes. So, the body has a way of maintaining a relatively constant pH. This is maintained because by the combination of carbon dioxide with water, forming hydrogen carbonate ions, which are acidic. in this way, homeostasis effects pH.


Why must the enzyme exist in a specific type of environment in order to function properly?

Enzymes that are sensitive to changes in their physical or chemical environment, such as changes in pH or temperature will change their shape if placed in suboptimal environments. Most enzymes are proteins, and it's a protein's shape that determines their function. Change the shape, and the enzyme is denatured, and can no longer function for its purpose adequately.


Why does the pancreas secrete?

The pancreas secretes bicarbonate in order to neutralize the highly acidic chyme (dissolved/digested food) coming from the stomach.


What is colon esophagus small intestine mouth stomach large intestine in order?

Mouth, Oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and finally the large intestine (also known as the colon).


What does an enzymes need to bind to in order to be able to catalyze a specific reaction?

Often enzymes require a cofactor in order for them to function as a catalyst