Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach has all of the following digestive functions EXCEPT:
A
Emulsifying dietary fats
B
Denaturing dietary proteins
C
Activating pepsinogen to pepsin
D
Providing an acidic environment to kill bacteria
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the role of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach. HCl is secreted by parietal cells in the stomach lining and plays a critical role in digestion by creating an acidic environment.
Step 2: Review the functions of HCl in digestion. These include denaturing dietary proteins (unfolding their structure to make them more accessible to enzymes), activating pepsinogen into pepsin (a protease enzyme that breaks down proteins), and providing an acidic environment that helps kill bacteria and pathogens.
Step 3: Clarify the concept of emulsification. Emulsification is the process of breaking down large fat globules into smaller droplets, increasing the surface area for enzymes like lipase to act. This process is primarily carried out by bile salts produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, not by HCl.
Step 4: Compare the listed functions in the question. Identify that 'emulsifying dietary fats' is not a function of HCl, as this process is unrelated to the acidic environment of the stomach and is instead associated with bile in the small intestine.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is 'Emulsifying dietary fats,' as it is the only function listed that does not align with the known roles of HCl in the stomach.