Dorothy FarrarStomach acid
Gastric acid is an enzyme-rich liquid that is formed in the stomach and is necessary for the digestion of the food eaten. It contains hydrochloric acid and pepsin, which breaks down protein and kills unwanted germs.
The acidic environment in the stomach offers optimal conditions for digestive enzymes to break down the ingested food. The stomach wall is protected from the strong acid by the gastric mucosa .
Definition
The production of gastric acid is regulated by cells at the edge of the stomach. If this is disturbed, it can lead to infections in the digestive tract, since microorganisms cannot be killed sufficiently. The main function of gastric acid is to prepare for digestion .
Pre-produced enzymes , hydrochloric acid, bicarbonate and also small amounts of lipases and water are helpful here . The food stays in the stomach for different lengths of time, those that are not so easily digestible have a longer residence time. Water, for example, is digested quickly and is therefore channeled along the arch of the stomach (curvature) past the chyme.
Anatomy
Anatomically, the stomach is divided into five sections: the entrance to the stomach, cardia, a left section, the fundus, then the main body, the corpus and the section at the outlet of the stomach, antrum, and finally the pylorus.
The development of gastric acid is divided into three phases:
The cephalic phase: This is where 30% of the acid produced by smell and taste is signaled from the brain to the vagus nerve. This nerve cord controls taste sensations, stimulating the parietal cells to release stomach acid.
The gastric phase: This is where 50% of the stomach acid is produced for digestion. Animated by the expansion of the stomach when food enters.
The intestinal phase: Here the decomposed food, the chyme, is passed into the last phase. In the front tract of the intestine , the last 10% of the stomach acid is formed by peristaltic movements and the chyme goes on into the duodenum, the duodenum .
Function
The main function of gastric acid is to prepare for digestion. Pre-produced enzymes, hydrochloric acid, bicarbonate and also small amounts of lipases and water are helpful here. The food stays in the stomach for different lengths of time, those that are not so easily digestible have a longer residence time. Water, for example, is digested quickly and is therefore channeled along the arch of the stomach (curvature) past the chyme.
Gastric acid is produced by the lining cells, called parietal cells, and is an energetically very costly process in the gastric mucosa. These cells work together like a network and are part of the epithelium , the glandular tissue in the lining of the stomach. Through them, the acid is secreted into the stomach cavity and forms a highly acidic environment there.
The secretion is involuntary and is regulated by the autonomic nervous system. The so-called parasympathetic nervous system sends out signals via the brain and the proton pump begins to release gastric acid. Every day, the stomach produces about two to three liters of gastric juice, called gastric acid because of its hydrochloric acid content, which has a pH of 1.5 to 2.
Acid is necessary for the digestion of food, it plays a major role in pre-digestion. The eaten food is thoroughly mixed by peristaltic movements, further chopped up and soaked and decomposed by the highly acidic gastric juice. The juice fulfills another function by rendering most pathogens harmless and thus preventing infections. His area of responsibility also includes breaking down the food pulp using digestive enzymes.
Diseases
- acid flux
- upset stomach
The body releases as much stomach acid as it needs. There are situations in which this balance is disturbed. Certain foods, stimulants, medicines or illness result in excess stomach acid and acidic chyme can flow back into the esophagus. This leads to acid flux, heartburn, or burning in the stomach.
Because the stomach produces too much acid, the pylorus can no longer fulfill its protective task of keeping the stomach closed by means of the sphincter and gravity. Because normally it only opens to take food.
But if it opens too often and doesn’t close properly, the acidic food pulp gets to the sensitive mucous membrane of the esophagus. Irritation can lead to inflammation of the esophagus.
Usually such symptoms occur after eating certain foods, eating too quickly, not chewing properly, or lying down too soon after eating. If you are overweight or pregnant, stomach acid can build up.
Heartburn is also caused by overeating or a reaction to foods with a high acid content. These include: citrus fruits, onions, garlic, coffee, alcohol or tomatoes. A prudent diet with a view to the acid-base balance, pH-neutralizing agents prevent heartburn or chronic reflux.
However, if there are disturbances in the formation of gastric acid, caution is advised. If germs are not killed enough, infections in the digestive tract occur. On the other hand, too much acid production leads to stomach ulcers because the acid penetrates the protective mucous membrane and attacks the stomach wall behind it.
The right diet and the right medication can help. However, stomach acid is right to have its corrosive properties, as it contributes extensively to digestion and kills germs.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.