1/2 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



The individual actions of the several ferments of the 

 pancreatic juice are as follows: Amylopsin is the diastic 

 ferment of the pancreatic juice; it converts starches into 

 maltose and glucose. It transforms glycogen into grape 

 sugar, and dissolves cellulose. This action may take 

 place in an alkaline, neutral, or acid medium. 



Trypsin converts albumin into peptones in alkaline 

 medium, also in slightly acid media. 



Steapsin converts fat into fatty acids and glycerin. 



The bile is an important secretion, whose action is to 

 prepare the food for absorption. It is of a golden color, 

 and has an alkaline reaction and a specific gravity of 1.020. 

 Its composition: 



Water 859.2 



Sodium glycocholate - QI 4. 

 Sodium taurocholate j 



Fat 9-2 



Cholestrin 2.6 



Mucus and coloring matter 29.8 



Salts . 7-8 



1000. 



The function of the bile is to assist in the emulsification 

 of the fats and to aid in their absorption. It prevents 

 putrefactive changes in the food. It stimulates the secre- 

 tion of the intestinal glands and excites peristaltic action 

 of the bowels. The total amount secreted in twenty-four 

 hours is estimated to be 2 J pounds. 



The intestinal juice (succus entericus) is secreted from 

 the small glands of the intestines (glands of Lieberkukn). 

 It resembles light Rhine wine in color, and is strongly 

 alkaline from the carbonate of sodium it contains. The 

 constituents are albumin and mucin. 



