Question

Pepsinogen is secreted by
a. Chief cells
b. Parietal cells
c. Gastric glands
d. Intestinal cells

Answer 1

Hint: The process of digestion is done with the help of the digestive enzymes. The protein digestion starts in the stomach when the protein digesting enzyme pepsin activates. The HCL provides an acidic medium to activate several enzymes. The chief cells and parietal cells are present in the stomach.

Complete answer:
• The body contains two types of glands for the secretion of the hormones: the exocrine glands and the endocrine glands. The hormones and neurotransmitters regulate the secretions of various cells in the body. In the stomach, two types of exocrine secretory cells are present that are parietal cells and the chief cells. HCL is secreted from the parietal cells while the chief cells secrete digestive juices such as pepsin.
• Pepsinogen is known as the inactive precursor of the pepsin. It is the principal proteolytic enzyme in the gastric juice. Pepsinogen activates in the acidic medium. The active form of the pepsinogen is called pepsin. It helps in the breakdown of the proteins.
• The gastric glands secrete gastric juices which contain several enzymes essential for the breakdown of the carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
• The intestinal cells of the small intestine secrete mucus and several enzymes such as peptidase, sucrose, maltase, lactase, lipase, and enterokinase.
• From the above information we have found that gastric chief cells secrete the pepsinogen.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: The small amount of the pepsinogen is present in the serum of the healthy ruminants. The HCL secreted from the gastric glands is very essential for the digestion of the food. Most of the carbohydrate breakdown occurs in the mouth, with the help of the salivary amylase in the saliva. Protease helps in the breakdown of proteins while the lipase helps in the breakdown of fats.