Which of the following is not a function of gastric hydrochloric acid (HCl)?

• A. Activating pepsinogen to pepsin
• B. Emulsifying fats
• C. Killing bacteria and pathogens
• D. Providing an acidic environment for digestion

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of gastric hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach. HCl is a strong acid secreted by the parietal cells of the stomach lining.
2. Recognize that one of the primary functions of HCl is to activate pepsinogen into pepsin, an enzyme crucial for protein digestion.
3. Note that HCl also helps in killing bacteria and pathogens that enter the stomach, providing a defense mechanism against infections.
4. Acknowledge that HCl creates an acidic environment in the stomach, which is necessary for the optimal activity of digestive enzymes like pepsin.
5. Identify that emulsifying fats is not a function of HCl. Emulsification of fats is primarily the role of bile, which is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.