GASTRIC ACID Meaning and
Definition
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Gastric acid refers to the highly acidic secretions produced by the cells lining the stomach walls, specifically the parietal cells. It is a crucial component of the digestive system, playing a fundamental role in the breakdown and digestion of food. Also known as stomach acid, gastric acid is comprised mainly of hydrochloric acid (HCl), along with several other digestive enzymes and substances.
The primary function of gastric acid is to create an acidic environment within the stomach, which aids in the digestion of proteins. It activates pepsinogen, an inactive enzyme released by the stomach lining cells, and converts it into pepsin, an active enzyme responsible for breaking down proteins into smaller peptides. Gastric acid also helps in the absorption of certain minerals (e.g. calcium and iron) from food.
The pH of gastric acid typically ranges between 1.5 and 3.5, making it highly acidic. This strong acidity serves multiple purposes: it sterilizes the stomach, killing bacteria and other microorganisms that may be ingested with food; it denatures proteins, unfolding their complex structures and making them more accessible to digestive enzymes; and it provides an optimum pH environment for the activation and function of various digestive enzymes.
However, the presence of excessive gastric acid can lead to various digestive disorders such as gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or other acid-related conditions. In such cases, medical interventions might be required to reduce the acid levels and alleviate the associated symptoms.
Common Misspellings for GASTRIC ACID
- fastric acid
- vastric acid
- bastric acid
- hastric acid
- yastric acid
- tastric acid
- gzstric acid
- gsstric acid
- gwstric acid
- gqstric acid
- gaatric acid
- gaztric acid
- gaxtric acid
- gadtric acid
- gaetric acid
- gawtric acid
- gasrric acid
- gasfric acid
- gasgric acid
- gasyric acid
Etymology of GASTRIC ACID
The word "gastric acid" is derived from Latin and Greek roots.
The term "gastric" comes from the Latin word "gaster" meaning "stomach", which itself is derived from the Greek word "gastēr".
The word "acid" comes from the Latin word "acidus", which means "sour" or "tart". It is derived from the Latin verb "acēre", meaning "to be sour" or "sharp".
When combined, "gastric acid" refers to the acid present in the stomach, responsible for the breakdown of food and digestion.
