Stomach is the organ that carries out the process of
digestion. Not only in humans but in many other organism stomach performs this
same function. Stomach has a number of enzymes and acids that does the process
of digestion.
Stomach produces digestive juices and hydrochloric acid to
digest food. The pH of these juices is so low that it can even dissolve metals.
So how stomach protects itself from those digestive juices even though it is
made up proteins??
The answer lies the other secretions made the cells on the
inner side of stomach wall. These cells secrete mucus and bicarbonate. Mucus acts
as a physical barrier between the acidic juices and the stomach wall. Bicarbonate
is highly alkaline and very effective in neutralizing acids. This combination protects
the stomach from digesting itself.
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