MDCAT Digestion & Nutrition 2026

Digestive Enzymes (by Region)

• Mouth (saliva) — ptyalin/amylase (carbs → maltose); pH 6.8
• Stomach — pepsin (proteins); HCl creates pH ~2
• Pancreas — trypsin, chymotrypsin (proteins); pancreatic amylase (carbs); lipase (fats)
• Small intestine — maltase, lactase, sucrase; peptidases; enterokinase

Key Concepts

• Bile — emulsifies fats; not an enzyme; produced by liver, stored in gall bladder
• Absorption — mainly in jejunum/ileum via villi and microvilli
• Deficiency diseases — kwashiorkor (protein), marasmus (calorie), scurvy (vit C), rickets (vit D)

Pair with high-yield Biology.