MCAT Question A Day - 6/3/13 - Answer!
Which of the following can take place in the esophagus?
A. Digestion of carbohydrates
B. Digestion of proteins
C. Digestion of lipids
D. None of the above
The correct answer is (A). Although no digestion occurs as a result of direct action by esophageal cells, the pH of the esophagus is compatible with the carbohydrate digestion that began in the mouth (salivary amylase). Until the swallowed food arrives in the acidic stomach, this digestion continues. Protein digestion (choice B) begins in the stomach, while lipid digestion (choice C) begins in the small intestine.
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