noun
- Plural of ptyalin; enzymes found in saliva that break down starches into simpler sugars during digestion.
Usage: technical/medical; also called salivary amylase in modern usage
Examples
- Ptyalins in saliva begin the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates as soon as food enters the mouth.
- The enzyme ptyalins is responsible for initiating starch digestion in the oral cavity.
- Saliva contains ptyalins that help prepare food for further digestion in the stomach.
- Ptyalins work most effectively in the slightly alkaline environment of the mouth.