Question

How does gastric hydrochloric acid helps in the digestion of food in the alimentary canal of humans?

Answer 1

Gastric Acid

Hydrochloric acid is naturally found in the gastric juices of the stomach. The gastric juices, together referred to as gastric acid, contain mostly potassium chloride, or KCl, and sodium chloride, or NaCl. As hydrochloric acid is such a strongly corrosive chemical, it only makes up around 5 percent of the composition of gastric acid. This gives gastric acid a very low pH range, usually between 1 to 2.

HCl Secretion

Hydrochloric acid is secreted through the parietal cells of the stomach. However, before HCl can be secreted and start digesting food, a few other things must happen. Peptides, found primarily in protein, stimulate the process that leads to HCl secretion. Peptides cause a chemical called gastrin to be secreted by G-cells. The presence of gastrin then stimulates the release of histamine. Finally, the histamine stimulates the parietal cells to begin secreting HCl.

Answer 2

Hello! here it the answer

Gastric hydrochloric acid gives an acidic medium which is essential for the activity of gastric enzymes. It kills the bacteria which might have come along with the food and also dissolves mineral salts.

this is how this acid help in the digestion of food in the the alimentary canal of humans