Gastric glands secrete gastric juice. These branched tubules reside in the stomach's inner lining and are responsible for producing this essential digestive fluid.
Understanding Gastric Glands and Gastric Juice
Gastric glands are complex structures containing different cell types, each contributing to the composition of gastric juice. These cells include:
- Parietal cells: These cells produce hydrochloric acid (HCl), creating the highly acidic environment necessary for optimal enzyme function. The acidity also helps kill harmful bacteria ingested with food. [See: Physiology, Pepsin - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf]
- Chief cells: These cells secrete pepsinogen, an inactive precursor to the protein-digesting enzyme pepsin. The acidic environment of the stomach converts pepsinogen to active pepsin. [See: Gastric gland | Mucous Cells, Parietal Cells & Chief Cells | Britannica]
- Mucous cells: These cells produce mucus, a protective layer that shields the stomach lining from the corrosive effects of HCl and pepsin. [See: Gastric gland | Mucous Cells, Parietal Cells & Chief Cells | Britannica]
- G cells (in pyloric glands): Located in the pyloric region of the stomach, these cells release gastrin, a hormone that stimulates gastric acid secretion. [See: Gastric glands - Wikipedia]
Gastric juice, therefore, is a complex mixture of HCl, pepsin, mucus, and other components, all crucial for the initial stages of digestion. The secretion of gastric juice is triggered by the presence of food in the stomach and its distension. [See: Stomach Secretion - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics]
The secretions of these exocrine gastric glands (mucous, parietal, and chief cells) collectively constitute gastric juice. [See: Stomach - SEER Training] The gastric gland's role is central to efficient digestion, initiating protein breakdown and preparing food for further processing in the intestines.
