Definitions of Terms

Enzyme

Definition
Enzymes are complex proteins that cause a specific chemical change in other substances without being changed themselves. Enzymes can be found in every organ of the body. For example, they can change starches, proteins, and sugars into substances the body can digest. Blood clotting is another example of enzymes at work.

Enzymes exist in the mouth (saliva), stomach (gastric juice), and intestines (pancreatic juice, intestinal juice, and intestinal mucosa).

Review Date: 5/17/2003 Reviewed By: Bridget Martell, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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