Where does the digestion of complex carbohydrates begin in the digestive tract?

The digestion of complex carbohydrates begins in the mouth, where the process is initiated by the enzyme amylase found in saliva. When food is chewed, the salivary glands secrete amylase, which starts breaking down the complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) into simpler sugars (disaccharides). This enzymatic action plays a crucial role in the digestive process, as it prepares the carbohydrates for further digestion and absorption that occurs later in the digestive tract, particularly in the small intestine.

The digestive actions of the stomach and esophagus primarily focus on the mechanical breakdown and transport of food rather than the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates. In the small intestine, additional enzymes are involved in carbohydrate digestion, but the initial process starts in the mouth, making it the correct location where complex carbohydrate digestion begins.