What are the functions of pancreatic juice?

Answer 1

Pancreatic juice contains enzymes that

(1) complete the digestion of starch(pancreatic amylase);

(2) carry out about half of protein digestion(via the action of trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase);

(3) are totally responsible for fat digestion because the pancreas is essentially the only source of lipases; and

(4) digest nucleic acids(nucleases).

Answer 2

Composition of Pancreatic Juice

Pancreatic juice consists of:

1)Water

2)Mineral salts

3)Enzymes

i)Amylase

ii)Lipase

4)Inactive enzyme precursors:

i)Trypsinogen

ii)Chymotrypsinogen

iii)Procarboxypeptidase.

The alkaline nature of Pancreatic juice is attributed to presence of bicarbonate ions, which are alkaline in solution.

Functions of Pancreatic Juice

Various function of Pancreatic juice are:

1)Digestion of Proteins: Enteropeptidase converts Trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen into the active proteolytic enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin. These activated enzymes convert polypeptides to tripeptides, dipeptides and amino acids

2)Digestion of Carbohydrates: Pancreatic amylase helps in the conversion of digestible polysaccharides (starch) not acted upon by salivary amylase to disaccharides.

3)Digestion of Fats: Bile salts help lipase in conversion of fats to fatty acids and glycerol. They do so by decreasing the size of the globules resulting in increased surface area.

Answer 3

to neutralise the hydrochloric acid that comes out of your stomach into the small intestine