In a lab setting like the Enzymes - High School Gizmos lab, digestion reaction rates are assessed to understand how efficiently food is broken down by enzymes. If Claire’s digestion reaction rates were measured and showed normal rates for stomach enzymes but slower or abnormal rates for enzymes that act in the small intestine, this would indicate that the problem is likely in her small intestine rather than her stomach.
The rationale behind this is that different enzymes work at different stages of digestion. For instance, gastric enzymes primarily function in the acidic environment of the stomach, while pancreatic enzymes and other intestinal enzymes function in the more neutral pH of the small intestine.
If Claire's stomach was effectively breaking down food but the subsequent digestion in the small intestine was impaired, it would suggest that the issue lies in the small intestine's ability to process foods properly, perhaps due to factors like bile production, enzyme secretion, absorption issues, or a blockage.
So, in summary, reaction rates that indicate normal digestion in the stomach but issues in the small intestine would lead to the conclusion that the problem is localized to the small intestine.
1 answer