Which component of gastric juice activates pepsinogen to pepsin?

Prepare for the Leaving Certificate Digestion Test with engaging questions and explanations. Ready yourself with multiple choice quizzes, hints, and deep insights. Be exam-ready now!

Multiple Choice

Which component of gastric juice activates pepsinogen to pepsin?

Explanation:
Activation of pepsinogen to pepsin happens in the acidic environment created by hydrochloric acid in gastric juice. The low pH produced by HCl (from parietal cells) causes pepsinogen, an inactive precursor, to undergo a change and be cleaved into the active enzyme pepsin; once formed, pepsin can help activate more pepsinogen in a positive feedback manner. Mucus plays a protective role for the stomach lining but does not activate pepsinogen. Bile is involved in fat digestion in the small intestine and is not part of gastric juice or its activation process.

Activation of pepsinogen to pepsin happens in the acidic environment created by hydrochloric acid in gastric juice. The low pH produced by HCl (from parietal cells) causes pepsinogen, an inactive precursor, to undergo a change and be cleaved into the active enzyme pepsin; once formed, pepsin can help activate more pepsinogen in a positive feedback manner. Mucus plays a protective role for the stomach lining but does not activate pepsinogen. Bile is involved in fat digestion in the small intestine and is not part of gastric juice or its activation process.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy