Question

Assertion- The food digested by the stomach is highly acidic, when it passes through the duodenum it becomes nearly neutral.
Reason- Brunner’s gland in the duodenum produces mucin which is alkaline.

Answer 1

HCl present in the stomach makes the pH of gut acidic. The acidic nature of an acid activates the inactive pepsinogen and converts it into an active enzyme called pepsin. Pepsin breaks down complex protein molecules present in food into simple protein molecules like proteoses and peptones.

Brunner's glands are located in the submucosa of the duodenum (initial region of the small intestine). They secrete an alkaline fluid containing mucin, which protects the mucosa from the acidic stomach contents entering the duodenum. It therefore, makes the enviroment in duodenum nearly alkaline. Hence, reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.