Answer: It prevents the enzyme from digesting the stomach's own protein-rich gastric lining before reaching the lumen.
- A It ensures pepsin is mainly activated once it reaches the duodenum, away from the stomach in general clinical practice
- B It prevents the enzyme from digesting the stomach's own protein-rich gastric lining before reaching the lumen
- C It allows pepsinogen to also act as a hormone signalling acid secretion as frequently documented in most reference accounts
- D It allows pepsinogen to function optimally at the neutral pH found inside chief cells according to standard texts
Correct answer: B. It prevents the enzyme from digesting the stomach's own protein-rich gastric lining before reaching the lumen
Explanation: Secreting pepsin as inactive pepsinogen protects the stomach's own epithelial lining from autodigestion; HCl converts pepsinogen to active pepsin only within the gastric lumen.
The human digestive system. Image: LadyofHats (Mariana Ruiz), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Concept context
The digestive tract, digestive enzymes, hormonal control of digestion, and liver function. High NEET weightage.