Question

One of the functions of HCl present in gastric juice is
A. Digestion of starch
B. Emulsification of fat
C. Conversion of pepsinogen to pepsin
D. Detoxification of harmful constituents of food

Answer 1

Hint: Pepsinogen is an enzyme that digests protein. It also kills bacteria and other microorganisms that enter into our body with the food.

Complete Answer:
- Digestion is the process where the ingested food breaks down so that the nutrients in the food can be absorbed by the body.
- Humans have the digestive system that helps to digest food. The digestion system has three main functions- ingestion of food, breaks the food down so nutrients can be absorbed, and eliminates what cannot be digested. The process of digestion starts from the chewing of foods to break it down into smaller pieces.
- The digestion of starch begins in the mouth by the action of salivary amylase. The pancreatic amylase secreted by the small intestine is also responsible for the complete digestion of starch.
- The fat emulsification is done by the enzyme secreted by the pancreas. The liver is the largest internal organ of the body and produces bile which also helps to break down fats.
- The environment inside the stomach is very acidic.
- The stomach glands or gastric glands secrete gastric juice which is very acidic. The HCl present in the gastric juice helps the enzyme pepsinogen to convert to pepsin.

Thus, the correct answer is option C i.e., Conversion of pepsinogen to pepsin.

Note: The acidic state in the stomach is beneficial to the action of pepsin. Pepsin is an enzyme active in the process of chemical protein digestion. Cells that are present in the lining of the stomach release mucus to help prevent damage to pepsin and the acidic environment.