Question

In the stomach 

A. pH rarely falls below 4.0. 

B. Pepsinogen is converted to pepsin by hydrochloric acid. 

C. Ferrous iron is reduced to ferric iron by hydrochloric acid. 

D. Acid secretion is inhibited by pentagastrin. 

E. There is a rise in the bacterial count after histamine H₁ receptor blockade.

Answer 1

A. False Values around pH 2–3 are normal. 

B. True Pepsin is the active proteolyic form of pepsinogen. 

C. False HCl reduces trivalent ferric iron to the divalent ferrous form in which it can be absorbed in the small intestine. 

D. False Pentagastrin is a powerful pharmacological stimulant of mucosal cells to produce HCl. 

E. False But it rises markedly after H₂ blockade which blocks gastric acid secretion.