Transcribed image text:
Match each description to the correct component of gastric juice. Breaks up cell walls of plants and connective Dysfunction could cause pernicious anemia Active form of a zymogen Essential to the absorption of vitamin B12 Activates pepsinogen Destroys most ingested pathogens Digests proteins Digests fat in the stomach Hydrochloric Acid Instrinsic Factor Pepsin Gastric Lipase
The correct answer and explanation is:
Matching Descriptions to Components of Gastric Juice
- Breaks up cell walls of plants and connective tissue → Hydrochloric Acid
- Dysfunction could cause pernicious anemia → Intrinsic Factor
- Active form of a zymogen → Pepsin
- Essential to the absorption of vitamin B12 → Intrinsic Factor
- Activates pepsinogen → Hydrochloric Acid
- Destroys most ingested pathogens → Hydrochloric Acid
- Digests proteins → Pepsin
- Digests fat in the stomach → Gastric Lipase
Explanation of Gastric Juice Components
Gastric juice is a crucial component of digestion, primarily secreted by the stomach to facilitate the breakdown of food. It contains several key substances: hydrochloric acid (HCl), intrinsic factor, pepsin, and gastric lipase, each playing an essential role in digestion.
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) serves multiple functions. It helps break down plant cell walls and connective tissues in meat, making nutrients more accessible for enzymatic digestion. It also activates pepsinogen, an inactive enzyme, converting it into pepsin, which digests proteins. Furthermore, its highly acidic environment (pH 1-2) destroys most harmful pathogens that enter the stomach, preventing infections.
Intrinsic Factor is a glycoprotein secreted by the stomach’s parietal cells, crucial for vitamin B12 absorption in the small intestine. Without intrinsic factor, vitamin B12 cannot be properly absorbed, leading to pernicious anemia, a condition characterized by reduced red blood cell production, fatigue, and neurological complications.
Pepsin is the active form of pepsinogen, a zymogen secreted by chief cells in the stomach. Pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller peptides, aiding in digestion. Its activation depends on the presence of HCl, which lowers the stomach’s pH to an optimal level for enzymatic activity.
Gastric Lipase is an enzyme responsible for the digestion of dietary fats in the stomach. While most fat digestion occurs in the small intestine, gastric lipase contributes by breaking down triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides, particularly in infants who consume milk.
Together, these components ensure the effective breakdown of food, absorption of nutrients, and protection against harmful microorganisms.