DIGESTIVE HORMONES

There are at least five hormones that regulate the digestive process.

Gastrin - is in the stomach and stimulates the gastric glands to secrete pepsinogen
(an inactive form of the enzyme pepsin) and hydrochloric acid. Secretion of gastrin is
stimulated by food arriving in stomach. The secretion is inhibited by low pH.
Secretin - is in the duodenum and signals the secretion of sodium bicarbonate in the
pancreas and it stimulates the bile secretion in the liver. This hormone responds to the
acidity of the chyme.
Cholecystokinin (CCK) - is in the duodenum and stimulates the release of digestive
enzymes in the pancreas and stimulates the emptying of bile in the gall bladder. This
hormone is secreted in response to fat in chyme.
Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) - is in the duodenum and decreases the stomach
churning in turn slowing the emptying in the stomach. Another function is to induce
insulin secretion.
Motilin - is in the duodenum and increases the migrating myoelectric complex
component of gastrointestinal motility and stimulates the production of pepsin.
Somatostatin acts directly on the acid-producing parietal cells to reduce acid
secretion in the stomach.

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

Digestive enzymes are classified based on their target substrates:

proteases and peptidases split proteins into small peptides and amino acids.
lipases split fat into three fatty acids and a glycerol molecule.
amylases split carbohydrates such as starch and sugars into simple sugars such as
glucose.
nucleases split nucleic acids into nucleotides.

In the human digestive system, the main sites of digestion are the oral cavity, the
stomach, and the small intestine. Digestive enzymes are secreted by different
exocrine glands including:
Salivary glands
Secretory cells in the stomach
Secretory cells in the pancreas
Secretory glands in the small intestine

In the oral cavity, salivary glands secrete an array of enzymes and substances that aid
in digestion and also disinfection. They include the following
amylase: Carbohydrate digestion also initiates in the mouth. Amylase, produced by
the salivary glands, breaks complex carbohydrates to smaller chains, or even simple
sugars. It is sometimes referred to as ptyalin.
lysozyme: Considering that food contains more than just essential nutrients, e.g.
bacteria or viruses, the lysozome offers a limited and non-specific, yet beneficial
antiseptic function in digestion.

The enzymes that are secreted in the stomach are called gastric enzymes. The
stomach plays a major role in digestion, both in a mechanical sense by mixing and
crushing the food, and also in an enzymatic sense, by digesting it. The following are
enzymes, hormones or compounds produced by the stomach and their respective
function:
Pepsin is the main gastric enzyme. It is produced by the stomach cells called "chief
cells" in its inactive form pepsinogen. Pepsinogen is then activated by the stomach
acid into its active form, pepsin. Pepsin breaks down the protein in the food into
smaller particles, such as peptide fragments and amino acids.
Hydrochloric acid (HCl is produced by the cells of the stomach called parietal cells.
HCl mainly functions to denature the proteins ingested, to destroy any bacteria or
virus that remains in the food, and also to activate pepsinogen into pepsin.
Mucin: The stomach has a priority to destroy the bacteria and viruses using its highly
acidic environment but also has a duty to protect its own lining from its acid. The
way that the stomach achieves this is by secreting mucin and bicarbonate via its
mucous cells, and also by having a rapid cell turn-over.

Pancreatic juice, composed of the secretions of both ductal and acinar cells, is made
up of the following digestive enzymes:
Trypsinogen, which is an inactive protease that, once activated in the duodenum into
trypsin, breaks down proteins at the basic amino acids.
Carboxypeptidase, which is a protease that takes off the terminal amino acid group
from a protein
Pancreatic lipase that degrades triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol.
Pancreatic amylase that breaks down starch and glycogen which are alpha-linked
glucose polymers.