THORAX ABDOMEN AND PELVIS

MEDICAL

STOMACH

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What does mucus do?
A
Digests food in the mouth
B
Digests food in the stomach
C
Protects the stomach from dangerous hydrochloric acid
D
Absorbs nutrients from food so the body has energy
Explanation: 

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: -Gastric mucus is a gel-mucous barrier secreted by epithelial cells and glandular cells in the stomach wall. It acts as part of a barrier that protects the stomach wall from the acid and digestive enzymes within the stomach lumen.

Detailed explanation-3: -Secretion of bicarbonate into the adherent layer of mucus gel creates a pH gradient with a near-neutral pH at the epithelial surfaces in stomach and duodenum, providing the first line of mucosal protection against luminal acid.

Detailed explanation-4: -The mucus protects the inner lining of the stomach from the secretion of the HCl. Hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is a strong acid that kills bacteria present in the food material. The mucus present in the gastric juice plays an important role in lubrication and protection of the mucosal epithelium.

There is 1 question to complete.