BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) Practice Test

Amylase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the digestive process by catalyzing the breakdown of starch into sugars, primarily maltose and glucose. Starch, being a polysaccharide, consists of long chains of glucose molecules. Amylase hydrolyzes these chains through a process called hydrolysis. This enzyme is predominantly found in saliva (where it is known as salivary amylase) and in the pancreas (as pancreatic amylase), both of which start the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth and continue in the small intestine.

The conversion of starch into sugar is essential for providing the body with a readily available energy source, as sugars can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream, unlike larger carbohydrate molecules such as starch. Understanding the function of amylase is fundamental in the study of nutrition and metabolism, highlighting its importance in digestive health.