Biomaterial Database

Development of digestive and absorptive function in the human fetus. 1976

D H Shmerling

In the mature human newborn infant, only pancreatic alpha-amylase shows a very low but highly inducible activity. Other digestive enzymes, although not yet at adult levels, increase rapidly with age. Intestinal absorptive functions develop already during early and mid-pregnancy and are mostly at adult levels in the newborn infant. Fat absorption is usually low in the premature infant and increases rapidly during the first month.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007408	Intestinal Absorption	Uptake of substances through the lining of the INTESTINES.	Absorption, Intestinal
D007422	Intestines	The section of the alimentary canal from the STOMACH to the ANAL CANAL. It includes the LARGE INTESTINE and SMALL INTESTINE.	Intestine
D008049	Lipase	An enzyme of the hydrolase class that catalyzes the reaction of triacylglycerol and water to yield diacylglycerol and a fatty acid anion. It is produced by glands on the tongue and by the pancreas and initiates the digestion of dietary fats. (From Dorland, 27th ed) EC 3.1.1.3.	Triacylglycerol Lipase,Tributyrinase,Triglyceride Lipase,Acid Lipase,Acid Lipase A,Acid Lipase B,Acid Lipase I,Acid Lipase II,Exolipase,Monoester Lipase,Triacylglycerol Hydrolase,Triglyceridase,Triolean Hydrolase,Hydrolase, Triacylglycerol,Hydrolase, Triolean,Lipase A, Acid,Lipase B, Acid,Lipase I, Acid,Lipase II, Acid,Lipase, Acid,Lipase, Monoester,Lipase, Triglyceride
D004041	Dietary Fats	Fats present in food, especially in animal products such as meat, meat products, butter, ghee. They are present in lower amounts in nuts, seeds, and avocados.	Fats, Dietary,Dietary Fat,Fat, Dietary
D004150	Dipeptidases	EXOPEPTIDASES that specifically act on dipeptides. EC 3.4.13.
D004186	Disaccharidases	Enzymes belonging to the class of GLYCOSIDE HYDROLASES which break down DISACCHARIDES into simpler sugars, MONOSACCHARIDES.	Disaccharidase
D005333	Fetus	The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000681	Amylases	A group of amylolytic enzymes that cleave starch, glycogen, and related alpha-1,4-glucans. (Stedman, 25th ed) EC 3.2.1.-.	Diastase,Amylase