The acid released in the stomach is gastric acid, which is primarily composed of hydrochloric acid (HCl).
Gastric Acid: The Stomach's Digestive Powerhouse
Gastric acid plays a crucial role in digestion. It's produced by specialized cells within the stomach lining called parietal cells. This strong acid has several important functions:
- Protein Digestion: Gastric acid denatures proteins, unraveling their complex structures, making them more accessible to digestive enzymes.
- Activation of Pepsin: It activates pepsinogen, an inactive enzyme, into its active form, pepsin. Pepsin then begins the breakdown of proteins into smaller peptides.
- Killing Bacteria: The highly acidic environment of the stomach helps kill many harmful bacteria and other microorganisms ingested with food, protecting the body from infection.
The reference material states that gastric acid, composed of hydrochloric acid, is released into the stomach from glands in the stomach wall to aid in digestion.
