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Showing results for ptyalin. Search instead for ptyalize.

ptyalin

American  
[tahy-uh-lin] / ˈtaɪ ə lɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.
  1. an enzyme in the saliva that converts starch into dextrin and maltose.


ptyalin British  
/ ˈtaɪəlɪn /

noun

  1. biochem an amylase secreted in the saliva of man and other animals

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ptyalin Scientific  
/ tīə-lĭn /
  1. An enzyme found in the saliva of humans and herbivorous animals that helps in the predigestion of starches. Ptyalin is a type of amylase.


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.

See Examples For:

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 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.

Such is the agency of ptyalin in the saliva, of pepsin in the gastric juice, and of pancreatin or trypsin in the secretion of the pancreas, in the processes of digestion.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

The saliva, which contains ptyalin, is secreted in the mouth.

From Maintaining Health Formerly Health and Efficiency by Alsaker, R. L.

We are not certain that nicotin ruins ptyalin; we are certain that the functions of other organs are vicarious of those of the salivary glands.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 06, No. 34, August, 1860 by Various

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