helps br eak do wn foo d to a f ormtha t can be used by the bo dy as thef oo d ent ers the s toma chhydrochl oric acidfir st p art o f the smal l ins tes tinewher e the GI s ystem begins t oabsorb resour ces f or use by othercel ls in the bo dyduodenumsecr ets sever al enzymes into theduo denum that assis t with diges tionof f a ts, pr otein , and carbohy drates.al so pr oduces bicarbona te andinsul inpancr easenzymes tha t br eaks do wn s tar chesint o sugarA myl aseneutr alizes the s toma ch acid in theduodenumBicarbona tehel ps regul ate the l evel s o f gl ucosein the bl oodstreaminsul inused by the bo dy t o hel p br eakdown fa tsbil eassis t in diges tion by secreting bil e,also fil ter t o xic subs tances producedby diges tion, cr ea tes gl ucose s tor es,and pr oduces substances necessar yfor bl oo d clotting and immunefunctionliv erhollo w pouch l ocated benea th theliv er tha t a ct as a r eser voir f or bil