ptyalin
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of ptyalin
1835–45; < Greek ptýal ( on ) spittle, saliva + -in 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With age, a digestive change definitely involving an enzyme occurs in the salivary glands : they secrete less ptyalin, an enzyme that converts starch into sugars.
From Time Magazine Archive
The enzymes ptyalin and emulsin convert it into glucose and saligenin, ortho-oxybenzylalcohol, HO�C6H4�CH2OH.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various
The ptyalin starts starch digestion, but it does not work in the presence of acid.
From Maintaining Health Formerly Health and Efficiency by Alsaker, R. L.
This action is due to the amylopsin,61 which is similar to ptyalin but is more vigorous.
From Physiology and Hygiene for Secondary Schools by Walters, Francis M.
The saliva, which contains ptyalin, is secreted in the mouth.
From Maintaining Health Formerly Health and Efficiency by Alsaker, R. L.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
