Which organ digests protein?

The stomach and small intestine are the primary organs involved in protein digestion.

Protein Digestion: A Multi-Stage Process

Protein digestion is a complex process that begins in the stomach and is completed in the small intestine. The process involves several organs and enzymes, each playing a vital role in breaking down complex protein molecules.

The Stomach's Role

• The stomach initiates protein digestion.
• Chief cells in the stomach secrete pepsin and hydrochloric acid.
• Pepsin, activated by hydrochloric acid, begins breaking down proteins into smaller polypeptides.

The Small Intestine's Role

• While the stomach begins protein digestion, it isn't completed there. The majority of protein digestion occurs in the small intestine.
• Proteins, the most complicated molecules, need further digestion in this organ.
• The small intestine releases enzymes that further break down polypeptides into individual amino acids, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Key Organs in Protein Digestion

Summary

Both the stomach and the small intestine work together to efficiently digest proteins, breaking them down into absorbable amino acids. The stomach starts the process with pepsin, and the small intestine finishes it with additional enzymes.