--- title: "Which acid is used in the body to help digestion?" description: "Which acid is used in the body to help digestion?" author: "Ronan Jone" published: 2018-03-01 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/35764/which-acid-is-used-in-the-body-to-help-digestion category: "science" tags: ["science experiments"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # Which acid is used in the body to help digestion? ## Answers ### Answer by Sanjay Goenka > The **Hydrochloric acid** in the Gastric juice breaks down the food and **digestive enzyme** and breaks it into the proteins. \ ![Which acid is used in the body to help digestion?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/6b27841e-ce75-4ade-a408-ac5937bbf3b7/images/49b56edb-9f71-4d60-bc29-c6eeb9d1bc17.jpeg)\ \ \ During the process of **Digestion,** Hydrochloric acid is released and it helps our body in the process of Digestion. It also contributes to [protein](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/302123/what-are-the-benefits-of-meatless-protein-sources) digestion by **supplying the H+** which activates the **pepsinogen** which acts as a precursor to pepsin. \ **Working of [Stomach](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39750/what-can-cause-a-vibrating-shaking-feeling-inside-the-stomach)**\ The Stomach is a hollow [space](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/341629/the-role-of-private-companies-in-the-future-of-space-exploration) in the body that takes in the food with the help of the **esophagus**, this organ breaks the food and mixes it, and transfers it into the small intestine. The **entire digestive system is built like a tube** that is attached from the **mouth to the anus.** It is like a section of the digestive tube which is **located near the left part of the abdominal part** and the shape of this is like an **oversized comma**. And its shape also **changes from one person to another** depending on the sex, [nature](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/327860/family-road-trip-7-spots-to-enjoy-nature-in-america), how much they eat. The reason behind a good digestive system may be the healthy size of the Stomach. \ **The walls of the Stomach are made up of several layers** of the mucous membrane and the connective tissue with the blood vessels and nerves, and including muscle fibers. These muscle layers are also **further is made up of three layers**. These muscles of the stomach move so vigorously so that even the hard part of the food also gets into soft and smooth food pulp. \ The inner mucous membrane has [multiple](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/2323/handling-multiple-submit-button-in-asp-dot-net-mvc) layers which further has the sublayers and made a **bundle like [structure](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/302153/structured-vs-unstructured-data-key-differences)** which is even visible with the naked eyes and it helps the food to go in a smooth pathway. Including these members, it also has a lot of small glands that [release](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2274/google-releases-an-update-to-chrome-os-107-that-includes-a-save-desk-for-later-option) the liquid which provides smoothness to the food for an easy journey. These small glands make the digestive enzymes, **Hydrochloric acid, and mucous, and Bicarbonate.** \ **This digestive juice is made up of these digestive enzymes hydrochloric acid and other substances that are important for absorbing the nutrients from food.** \ **Daily** in our Stomach about **3 to 4-liter gastric juice is made** by the system and this digestive enzyme **breaks down the food into small pieces** and converts it into proteins. The **acidic gastric juice also kills the [bacteria](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2205/researchers-from-nasa-and-iit-madras-examine-bacteria-on-the-space-station) of the Stomach**. The mucous along with the bicarbonate covers the wall of the membrane so that hydrochloric acid can’t [attack](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/300788/why-is-heart-attack-increasing-in-the-younger-generation) it. ## \ ## Read More : [How Do Mammals Communicate?](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50608/explain-how-do-mammals-communicate) --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/35764/which-acid-is-used-in-the-body-to-help-digestion Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.