Question

mention the name of any two secretions released by the gastric glands and state one role played by each in our body

Answer 1

Stomach possesses branched and tubular gastric glands present on the inner surface of wall. They secrete HCL – hydrochloric acid - , protein digesting enzymes and mucus. All these secretions are collectively called gastric juice.

The HCL makes the medium acidic. Protein digesting enzyme pepsin acts in acidic medium which breaks down proteins into peptones. Gastric juice also contains some gastric lipase which partially breaks down lipids. The gastric juices can also be secreted by stomach by the sight, smell or thought of appetizing food.

More to know:

• Hydrochloric acid present in gastric juice may be harmful in some situations. Mixed reflux of gastric and duodenal juices is more harmful to the esophagus than gastric juice alone.
• The stomach is made from very tough material, and lined with mucus to prevent the gastric juices from irritating the stomach wall. People with ulcers can experience extreme stomach pain because the gastric juices irritate the ulcerated area of the stomach. Gastric juice is very acidic that breaks down foods to make them accessible to the digestive tract and kills many bacteria and microorganisms which cannot survive in that environment, protecting the body from infection with many common pathogens.
• The gastric juice is made up of hydrochloric acid, pepsinogen and other digestive enzymes, intrinsic factor, gastrin, mucus, and bicarbonates. The gastric juice also contains bicarbonates to neutralize the acid and thereby regulate the pH level in the stomach.