# Describe the roles of bile and pancreatic juice in the digestion of food in the small intestine.

> AQA A-Level Biology (7402) — 3.3.3 Digestion and Absorption · Describe · 5 marks

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Bile emulsifies fats / breaks fats into smaller droplets
2. This increases the surface area of fat (for lipase to act on)
3. Bile neutralises stomach acid / makes the contents of the small intestine alkaline or neutral
4. Pancreatic juice contains enzymes (amylase, protease and/or lipase) that digest food
5. The alkaline / neutral pH in the small intestine is the optimum pH for pancreatic enzymes to work

## Key terms

- [bile](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/bile)
- [pancreatic juice](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/pancreatic-juice)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA A-Level Biology (7402)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/describe-the-roles-of-bile-and-940227d0) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.