Answer the following question given this paragraph: Digestion of Carbohydrates Carbohydrate digestion begins in the mouth (Figure 20.5 "The Principal Events and Sites of Carbohydrate Digestion"), where salivary -amylase attacks the -glycosidic linkages in starch, the main carbohydrate ingested by humans. Cleavage of the glycosidic linkages produces a mixture of dextrins, maltose, and glucose. (For more information about carbohydrates, see Chapter 16 "Carbohydrates". ) The -amylase mixed into the food remains active as the food passes through the esophagus, but it is rapidly inactivated in the acidic environment of the stomach. Figure 20.5 The Principal Events and Sites of Carbohydrate Digestion. Q: Where does carbohydrate digestion begin in the body? Choices: - stomach - intestines - throat - mouth A:
mouth