The primary organs that produce amylase are the salivary glands and the pancreas.
Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into smaller sugar molecules. It's crucial for the digestive process, beginning in the mouth and continuing in the small intestine. While both salivary and pancreatic amylases perform the same function, they are produced by different organs and encoded by different genes (AMY1 and AMY2, respectively). There are some slight differences in their activity against different starches.
Here's a breakdown of each organ's role:
- Salivary Glands: Located in the mouth, the salivary glands produce salivary amylase (also known as ptyalin). This enzyme begins the digestion of carbohydrates as soon as food enters the mouth.
- Pancreas: The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It produces pancreatic amylase, which is released into the small intestine to continue the breakdown of carbohydrates after the food leaves the stomach.
In summary, both the salivary glands and the pancreas play essential roles in amylase production and starch digestion.
