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Answer: HCl’s primary purpose is to give the required H+ for pepsinogen to convert into pepsin. HCl is secreted into our stomachs in about 2 litres every day. It also functions as a protective mechanism, as the high acidic environment kills some germs.
- In the stomach, hydrochloric acid is a necessary acid
- It aids in the destruction of germs and other dangerous organisms
- It also serves as a food preservative
- To digest proteins in our stomach, HCl transforms inactive pepsinogen into active pepsin.
- Apart from mucus, HCl functions as another stomach cover to prevent pepsin from digesting the entire stomach
The activation of parietal cells in the gastric gland by the combined action of acetylcholine and histamine allows hydrochloric acid to be produced when the digestion process begins. It has a number of purposes, the most essential of which is to activate pepsin, a digestive enzyme that assists in protein breakdown in the stomach.
Due to the release of concentrated HCl in the stomach, its pH is extremely low—nearly 1.5 to 3. This acidity level also helps to destroy some potentially harmful microorganisms that are eaten with meals. The hormone somatostatin controls stomach acidity by decreasing the release of gastrin.
Its pH is exceedingly low—nearly 1.5 to 3 due to the production of concentrated HCl in the stomach. This acidity level also aids in the destruction of some dangerous germs that are consumed with meals. The hormone somatostatin regulates stomach acidity by blocking the production of gastrin.
The H+ ion supplied by the concentrated HCl is used to convert pepsinogen to pepsin. The main cells of the gastric glands and the antrum of the stomach emit pepsinogen.
The transformed pepsin breaks down protein particles into peptides or amino acids, which are then digested or absorbed in the small intestine. Without adequate HCl production, the protein will not be properly digested in the stomach, and the entire digestive process will fail.
