The secretion produced by the intestinal glands is known as the intestinal juice or succus entricus. It is a clear yellow fluid with a pH around 7.6 and contains water, mucous and some digestive enzymes produced by intestinal cells. The enzymes found in the intestinal juice and their action is as follows on food in the small intestine.
(1) Carbohydrases:
Maltase, Lactase, Sucrase these are disaccharases digesting disaccharides Maltose, Lactose and sucrose in the intestinal lumen as follows at pH 7.1 – 8.2.
(2) Proteases:
Aminopeptidase, tripeptidase and dipeptidase- (Exopeptdases) these are proteolytic enzymes digesting the intermediate polypeptides produced by the action of endopeptidases of stomach & pancreas. Their action is as follows in the small intestinal at pH 7.1 – 8.2
proteoes,peptones &polypeptides
(Enterokinase, an activator enzyme, activates gastric glands to produce gastric juice)
(3) Lipase:
A fat digesting enzyme. It is not as strong as pancreatic lipase but it completes digestion of fat in the small intestinal lumen.
(4) Nucleases:
Act on nucleoside molecules of nucleoproteins, splitting them into corresponding nitrogenous bases and sugar molecule.
