Digestion is the breaking down of food into simpler substances so that they can be used by the body. Organs included in the digestive system include the mouth, pharynx, gullet, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus.
In the stomach, enzymes are what dissolve proteins, along with inactive pepsinogen and rennin.
Hydrochloric acid (HCI) released into the stomach activates pepsinogen, turning it into pepsin, which helps to break apart the bonds linking amino acids in proteins, so that digestive enzymes can break down the amino acids.
Other enzymes include amylase, protease and lipase.
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| A diagram of the digestive system |
