Question

How does the intestinal juice contribute the digestion of proteins. What provides the alkaline pH in the small intestine?

Answer 1

The enzymes present in the intestinal juice (succus entericus) act on the end products obtained after the action of pancreatic juice on the proteins. Dipeptides thus formed are acted upon by the dipeptidases present in the succus entericus which converts it into the simple absorbable amino acids. Mucus secreted by the goblet cells along with the bicarbonates from the pancreas provide an alkaline medium (7.8) in the small intestine for the enzymatic activities and to protect intestinal mucosa from the acid.