Gastrointestinal NCLEX Questions Related

Review Gastrointestinal NCLEX Questions related questions and content

Proteins are digested or broken down by the _____ in the stomach.

  • A. pepsinogen
  • B. pepsin
  • C. hydrochloric acid
  • D. lipase
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: pepsin. Pepsin is an enzyme secreted by the stomach that breaks down proteins into peptides. Initially, pepsin is produced in an inactive form called pepsinogen, which is activated by the acidic environment in the stomach. Pepsin works optimally at a low pH, which is maintained by hydrochloric acid (choice C) in the stomach. Lipase (choice D) is an enzyme that breaks down fats, not proteins. So, the correct enzyme responsible for digesting proteins in the stomach is pepsin.