Which process in the stomach is initiated by hydrochloric acid?

Which process in the stomach is initiated by hydrochloric acid?

• A. Converts pepsinogen to pepsin
• B. Pancreatic enzyme activates
• C. Bile acids transforms
• D. Lipase acts

Answer: (A)

Hydrochloric acid creates a highly acidic environment in the stomach, which activates pepsinogen into pepsin. Pepsinogen is secreted by gastric chief cells in an inactive form, and the low pH from HCl triggers its proteolytic cleavage to the active enzyme pepsin. Pepsin then begins breaking down proteins in the stomach. Other options describe events that occur later in the digestive tract or involve different organs (pancreatic enzymes activated in the small intestine, bile acids for emulsification, or lipase activity mainly in the small intestine), so they aren’t initiated by gastric acid in the stomach.

Hydrochloric acid creates a highly acidic environment in the stomach, which activates pepsinogen into pepsin. Pepsinogen is secreted by gastric chief cells in an inactive form, and the low pH from HCl triggers its proteolytic cleavage to the active enzyme pepsin. Pepsin then begins breaking down proteins in the stomach. Other options describe events that occur later in the digestive tract or involve different organs (pancreatic enzymes activated in the small intestine, bile acids for emulsification, or lipase activity mainly in the small intestine), so they aren’t initiated by gastric acid in the stomach.