ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -In the stomach several mucosal defence mechanisms protect the stomach against hydrochloric acid and noxious agents. The pre-epithelial protection is made up by the mucus-bicarbonate barrier. Mucus and bicarbonate, secreted by mucus cells, create a pH gradient maintaining the epithelial cell surface at near neutral pH.

Detailed explanation-2: -The stomach is protected from self-digestion by the mucosal barrier. This barrier has several components. First, the stomach wall is covered by a thick coating of bicarbonate-rich mucus. This mucus forms a physical barrier, and its bicarbonate ions neutralize acid.

Detailed explanation-3: -Your gut mucus is your body’s first line of defense. It creates a physical barrier between the inside of your gut and the rest of your body. This barrier makes it hard for bacteria, viruses, and parasites that you ingest (eat) to travel out of your gut and infect the rest of your body.

Detailed explanation-4: -The stomach normally does not digest itself because of a mechanism which regulates gastric secretion. This checks the secretion of gastric juice before the content becomes sufficiently corrosive to damage the mucosa. Pure gastric juice can destroy the mucosa and produce a peptic ulcer.

Detailed explanation-5: -The mucus shields the stomach wall from the digestive enzyme pepsin’s self-digestion as well as the acidic quality of the gastric juice.