Pancreatic Juice: Composition, Function & Digestive Role

The juice released by the pancreas is known as pancreatic juice. It plays a vital role in the digestive process by aiding in the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Pancreatic juice contains important digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and protease that break down complex food molecules into simpler substances that can be easily absorbed by the body. Amylase helps in breaking down carbohydrates into sugars, lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol, and protease breaks down proteins into amino acids. Pancreatic juice is secreted by the pancreas, a gland located behind the stomach, and released into the small intestine where it mixes with the chyme (partially digested food) from the stomach.