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Stomach acid helps break down food because it contains enzymes, which are like "cutting tools" for certain food particles.

The acid itself does not break the food down, it is the biological enzymes floating around inside the acid that break the food down.

The only reason the stomach is acidic is because the enzymes in the stomach work more effectively at a lower pH.

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14y ago
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14y ago

Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

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Q: What acid is in your stomach that helps break down food?
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How does your stormach work?

stomach turns, constantly moving the acid in it. Acid breaks down the food to be absorbed into the stomach walls. Whatever doesn't get absorded keeps going down the line.


What is the function of Pepsinogens?

pepsinogens when pumped into the stomach and exposed to an acid environment form pepsin. pepsin is a protease breaking proteins down into amino acids.


What body part stores and breaks down food?

It is most likely the the stomach since the intestines do not break down food. The stomach is filled with extremely strong acids that are powerful enough to dissolve razor blades whole. The food drops into our stomachs and immediately breaks down. Then the stomach passes what is left through the Pyloric Sphincter (the wall passage between stomach and small intestine). The small intestine then absorbs all the nutrients through the villi (small hairlike cells on the inner intestine walls). Once the food reaches the large intestine, bile is added to the food, turning it into our stool, while absorbing liquids and salts from the product. Then the food leaves our bodies, only so we can obtain more.


Can lactase break down cellulose?

Yes, lactase can definitely break down cellulose. In fact, when the lactase works to break down the cellulose, it breaks the cellulose down into two different monomers.


An analogy for lysosome?

Think of a cell as a factory. The nucleus is the "boss", and lysosomes are like the "clean-up" crew after all the work has been done. they go around in the cell breaking down wastes; getting rid of it.