GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Hydrochloric acid (HCl), another component of the gastric juice, plays a crucial role in creating the pH required for pepsin activity. Parietal cells produce HCl by secreting hydrogen and chloride ions. When pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid exist together in the gastric juice, pepsin takes its active form.

Detailed explanation-2: -Acid that is released into the stomach from glands in the stomach wall. It helps digest food.

Detailed explanation-3: -The stomach is a reservoir of strong acid, with a much lower pH than in any other part of our digestive system. This environment is perfect for the activation of enzymes that facilitate the breakdown of proteins into smaller protein fragments, which is the first step in digesting our food.

Detailed explanation-4: -Gastric acid is regulated in feedback systems to increase production when needed, such as after a meal. Other cells in the stomach produce bicarbonate, a base, to buffer the fluid, ensuring a regulated pH. These cells also produce mucus – a viscous barrier to prevent gastric acid from damaging the stomach.

Detailed explanation-5: -The acidity activates the protein-digesting enzyme (pepsin) in the stomach which is required alongside hydrochloric acid to commence the splitting apart of protein molecules. The acid unravels proteins to enable the pepsin enzyme to get to work.