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Updated: May 29, 2026

Profiling Luminal pH in Three-Dimensional Gastrointestinal Organoids Using Microelectrodes
Published on: July 5, 2024
Gastric acid and digestive physiology
1General Surgery Residency Program, Atlanta Medical Center, Graduate Medical Education, 303 Parkway Drive, North East, Atlanta, GA 30312, USA. ptrams@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The primary function of the stomach is to prepare food for digestion and absorption by the intestine. Acid production is the unique and central component of the stomach's contribution to the digestive process. Acid bathes the food bolus while stored in the stomach, facilitating digestion. An intact defense against mucosal damage by the stomach's acid is essential to avoid ulceration. This article focuses on the physiology of gastric acid production, the stomach's defense mechanisms against acid injury, and the most common challenges to the gastric defenses. A brief description of the stomach's nonacid digestive capabilities is included.
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