Question

Short / Long answer type questions.
If the salivary glands were unable to secrete amylase, what effect would this have on starch digestion)

Answer 1

Amylase is a digestive enzyme that acts on starch in food, breaking it down into smaller carbohydrate molecules. Without amylase, a person will be unable to digest starches and sugars in the mouth. However, the pancreas also secretes amylase which will continue the digestion and hence, digestion of starch will not stop completely.