What are two purposes of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
Question:
What are two purposes of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
Stomach:
The luminal contents of the stomach are highly acidic due to the presence of hydrochloric acids. To prevent this acid from digesting the stomach tissues, the gastric mucosa is covered with a thick mucus substance filled with bicarbonates that decreases the acidity near the epithelial surface.
Answer and Explanation: 1
Become a Study.com member to unlock this answer! Create your account
View this answerThe hydrochloric acids secreted by the gastric parietal cells are important in both mechanical digestion and chemical digestion of food. It helps in...
See full answer below.
Learn more about this topic:
from
Chapter 24 / Lesson 2The anatomy of the digestive tract causes food to be broken down as it travels through its muscular structures. Learn through an example how the parts of the throat, esophagus, and stomach break down and move food to the small intestine.