Question

List any two roles of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Answer 1

Stomach:

• The organ present in the upper abdominal region involved in the transportation and digestion of food is known as the stomach.
• It is a part of the human alimentary canal.

Hydrochloric Acid in Stomach:

• During digestion, the parietal cells present in the stomach releases hydrochloric acid.
• Hydrochloric acid causes the pH of the stomach to fall, resulting in an acidic environment.
• The acidic pH activates the enzymes present in the stomach, allowing them to digest the food products.
• The acidic pH of the stomach also kills the pathogens that may have invaded the body with the food preventing the stomach infection.
• Hydrochloric acid also helps in breaking the protein molecules by causing their denaturation.