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Examoogle • User • info@examoogle.com • EE-2024-8821
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Digestion of food by means of gastric glands and hydrochloric acid takes place in which part of the body?
Large intestine
Stomach
Small intestine
Pancreas
Stomach
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and digestive enzymes like pepsin are secreted by the gastric glands located in the inner lining of the stomach. This acidic environment creates an optimal pH of around 1.5−3.5, which kills ingested bacteria and activates pepsinogen into pepsin for protein digestion.
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and digestive enzymes like pepsin are secreted by the gastric glands located in the inner lining of the stomach. This acidic environment creates an optimal pH of around 1.5−3.5, which kills ingested bacteria and activates pepsinogen into pepsin for protein digestion.
Think of the stomach as a food blender filled with mild battery acid—it mechanically churns food while the acid chemically breaks down tough meat and proteins and sanitizes the food before sending it downstream.
'G-H-P' -> Gastric glands release HCl to activate Pepsin in the Stomach.
\text{Pepsinogen} \xrightarrow{\text{HCl (pH } 1.5 - 3.5 ) } \text{Pepsin} — Activation of protein-digesting enzyme
ProteinsPepsinPeptones+Proteoses — Partial breakdown of proteins in stomach
The gastric mucosa contains parietal cells that secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) and chief cells that secrete pepsinogen. HCl converts inactive pepsinogen into active pepsin via acid hydrolysis: PepsinogenHClPepsin. The strong acid also denatures complex food proteins, unfolding their structures for easier enzymatic breakdown, while mucus protects the stomach lining from self-digestion.
Gastric juice consists of Hydrochloric acid (HCl), Pepsinogen, and Mucus.
HCl creates an acidic medium that kills bacteria swallowed with food and activates pepsinogen.
Mucus protects the inner lining of the stomach from the corrosive action of HCl.
Protein digestion begins in the stomach, while carbohydrate digestion is paused due to salivary amylase inactivation by HCl.
High acidity sterilizes ingested food by destroying harmful pathogens.
Converts inactive zymogens into active digestive enzymes without harming tissue before release.
Overproduction of HCl can lead to hyperacidity, gastritis, or peptic ulcers.
Requires a continuous mucus-bicarbonate barrier to prevent auto-digestion of the stomach wall.
Breakdown of complex dietary proteins into simpler peptides.
Solubilization of dietary minerals for better absorption downstream.
Option A (Large intestine): Responsible mainly for absorption of water and salts, not secretion of HCl or digestive enzymes.
Option C (Small intestine): Receives bile and pancreatic juice; complete digestion occurs here in an alkaline medium (pH≈7.8−8.5).
Option D (Pancreas): An endocrine/exocrine gland that secretes pancreatic juice containing trypsin, lipase, and amylase into the small intestine, not HCl.
B is correct — Gastric glands secreting hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen are located exclusively in the inner lining of the stomach.
Remember for RRB ALP: Protein digestion begins in the Stomach (acidic medium via HCl), but complete digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates happens in the Small Intestine (alkaline medium).