NANP Board Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

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Where does starch digestion begin in the human body?

Mouth

Starch digestion begins in the mouth due to the action of salivary amylase, an enzyme secreted by the salivary glands. When food that contains starch is chewed, this enzyme starts breaking down starch molecules into simpler sugars, such as maltose and dextrin. This process continues as the food mixes with saliva and is swallowed.

In contrast, the esophagus primarily serves as a passageway for food to move from the mouth to the stomach and does not involve any digestion of starch. The large intestine mainly absorbs water and electrolytes and is not involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates like starch. While some digestion occurs in the stomach, particularly of proteins due to gastric juices, the significant breakdown of starch has already begun in the mouth. Thus, the mouth is the correct location where starch digestion first takes place.

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Esophagus

Large intestine

Stomach

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