Question

Write names of different components present in gastric juice and write the functions of any two components.

Answer 1

Gastric juice is a thin watery acid digestive fluid secreted by the glands in the mucous membrane of the stomach and containing 0.2 to 0.4 percent free hydrochloric acid and several enzymes.

Complete answer:
Gastric juice contains the following components:
Pepsin, Rennin, HCl and Gastric mucin

1. Function of Pepsin- Pepsin is a potent enzyme in gastric juice that digests proteins such as those in meat, eggs, seeds, and dairy products. Pepsin is of particular interest as it was the first enzyme to be discovered. The name pepsin was given by Theodor Schwann (1810-1882) in 1836, and came from pepsis (the term for digestion in Hippocratic writings). Into the mid-nineteenth century, scientists showed that pepsin broke down proteins into “peptones”. Pepsin acts on the complex dietary protein and breaks up into peptides and amino acids which can be readily absorbed by the intestinal lining. It helps in digestive disturbance in general and as a result of impaired production of gastric juice. It acts as an adjunct in the treatment of anaemic conditions, especially during slimming diet when protein intake increases.
2. Function of Renin- Renin, also called angiotensinogen, is protease involved in the renin–angiotensin aldosterone system, which regulates the body's water balance and blood pressure level. Thus, it regulates the body's mean arterial blood pressure. Renin originates from juxtaglomerular kidney cells, which sense the changes in renal perfusion pressure, via stretch receptors in the vascular walls.

Note: Pepsin and renin are enzymes secreted by the gastric pits in the stomach. They are the active forms of pepsinogen and prorenin respectively.