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Question
What would happen if HCl were not secreted in the stomach?
Solution 1
Hydrochloric acid is secreted by the glands present on the stomach walls. It dissolves bits of food and creates an acidic medium. The acidic medium allows pepsinogen to be converted into pepsin. Pepsin plays an important role in the digestion of proteins. Therefore, if HCl were not secreted in the stomach, then pepsin would not be activated. This would affect protein digestion. A pH of about 1.8 is necessary for proteins to be digested. This pH is achieved by HCl.
Solution 2
HCl is secreted by parietal or oxyntic cells of gastric glands. It serves the following functions:
- It activates the pepsinogen and prorennin into their active form pepsin and rennin.
- It provides the acidic pH (pH 1.8) optimal for pepsin.
- It kills the harmful bacteria present in the food.
- It stops the action of saliva on food. Pepsin and rennin are the principle proteolytic enzymes of stomach. If these enzymes are not activated by HCl then digestion of protein will not take place in stomach, and also the harmful bacteria can cause various diseases.
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