脂质消化

In the mouth, lipid digestion begins as the glands of the tongue release lingual lipase, an enzyme that starts the process of breaking down large fats, such as triglycerides, the most abundant dietary type.

As the lipids travel towards the stomach, additional enzymes, gastric lipases are secreted. Because lipids are hydrophobic, they tend to aggregate in these aqueous environments, preventing the lipases from breaking down the masses.

Once inside the duodenum of the small intestine, bile salts coat the fat droplets and cause the globules to disperse, creating an emulsion, an aqueous suspension. With increased surface area available, the pancreatic lipases present can hydrolyze the triglycerides into smaller components, specifically free fatty acids and monoglycerides.

Now these smaller products are ready to be absorbed by the small intestine for further processing.