Stomach+Acids+and+Enzymes

Stomach Acids and Enzymes:

Pepsinogen- secreted by chief cells which are a rust color; inactive form of digestive enzyme pepsin Pepsin- chemically digests proteins and activates more pepsinogen HCl- secreted by parietal cells which are gold; changes pepsinogen to pepsin Mucus- secreted by Mucous cells which are dark pink; moistens and protects cells lining stomach Gastrin- secreted by cells in stomach wall; hromone stimulates release of gastric juices

When HCl and Pepsinogen are secreted into the gastric gland, the HCl converts the pepsinogen into pepsin. Pepsin then activates more pepsinogen and begins to chemically digest proteins by breaking the protein polypeptide chains into smaller polypeptides, which the small intestine needs to continue protein digestion.

(Third Edition Biology Concepts and Connections)