Answer:
Because of the enzymes that are situated there and the potential damage to intestinal lining.
Explanation:
The small intestine plays a large role in digestion. It does this through the use of enzymes which break down complex molecules into more simple ones. However, all enzymes need certain conditions to work.
Enzymes work because they have very specific shapes - active sites - which will only allow certain chemicals to bond with them (and therefore be affected). At temperatures or pH's that are above optimum, the enzyme becomes less efficient until it cannot work at all. We say that the enzyme is denatured.
In the small intestine, the enzymes that "work" there need an alkaline pH in order to have optimum working conditions.
A second reason is that strong acids (like hydrochloric) can end up damaging the lining of your intestine. The stomach is specially adapted to cope with these conditions (e.g. thick lining, regularly replaced cells) but the small intestine is not. Therefore, it needs the pH to be reduced to avoid damage.
Finally, the pH in the small intestine is changed through the use of bile - an alkaline substance produced by the liver. Bile is necessary as when food comes from the stomach, the hydrochloric acid used in the first stages of digestion make it too acidic.
FAQs
Why the medium of small intestine has to be made alkaline? ›
The enzymes that "work" in the small intestine require an alkaline pH in order to function well. Another explanation is that powerful acids (such as hydrochloric acid) might harm the gut lining.
Why does the small intestine need to be alkaline? ›Bile neutralises the acidity of the chyme that comes from the stomach and makes it alkaline. An alkaline medium is required in the small intestine for the digestion of fats and the action of pancreatic enzymes.
Why is the medium in the small intestine made alkaline? ›Pancreatic juice makes the medium in the small intestine alkaline. It neutralizes the acidity of the chyme that comes from the stomach. Alkaline medium is required for the digestion of fats and the action of pancreatic enzymes.
What would happen if there is no alkaline medium in small intestine? ›If there would be no alkaline medium in small intestine then acid from the stomach can erode the walls of small intestine. EXPLANATION: When we swallow our food it reaches our stomach where strong acids are released by the walls of stomach for the breakdown of food, mainly proteins.
Why is it necessary to maintain that pH level in the small intestine? ›In the small intestine, the enzymes that "work" there need an alkaline pH in order to have optimum working conditions. A second reason is that strong acids (like hydrochloric) can end up damaging the lining of your intestine.
Why does the body need to be alkaline? ›When the body becomes too acidic, it leads to inflammation and an increased risk for other diseases and disorders. Whereas an alkalizing diet helps to balance your pH level, ultimately reducing acidity. When you have a more alkaline environment your body is able to function at optimal levels.
Does the small intestine secrete alkaline? ›Intestinal Glands
The submucosa of the duodenum is the only site of the complex mucus-secreting duodenal glands (Brunner's glands), which produce a bicarbonate-rich alkaline mucus that buffers the acidic chyme as it enters from the stomach. The roles of the cells in the small intestinal mucosa are detailed in Table 1.
Alkaline medium is essential for the functioning of pancreatic juice, which is provided by. The secretion of bile salts from the liver. The secretion of bicarbonate from the liver. The secretion of bicarbonate from the duodenal wall.
Which component in small intestine mainly contributes to alkaline conditions? ›The duodenum contains Brunner's glands, which produce a mucus-rich alkaline secretion containing bicarbonate. These secretions, in combination with bicarbonate from the pancreas, neutralize the stomach acids contained in gastric chyme.
Why is it important that digestive fluid is alkaline? ›Alkalinity of bile juice is required to emulsify the fats as it contains bile salts. It is necessary that bile juice make the food alkaline otherwise alkalinity of pancreatic juice would decrease due to acidity of food and it would not able to act on food.
How does the small intestine regulate pH? ›
Bicarbonate ions and bile are secreted inside the small intestine. The bicarbonate ions make the environment alkaline inside the small intestine. This is important for the action of the intestinal juice and enzymes secreted in the intestine.
Why does the stomach have a lower pH than the small intestine? ›Complete answer:
Because other digestive enzymes for chemical digestion, such as pancreatic lipase, gall, trypsin, and pepsin, are not as acidic as the chemicals in the stomach, the acids in the intestines are weaker and more diluted.
The alkaline diet encourages you to eat foods that are alkaline (or basic, meaning they have a pH greater than 7), instead of those that are acidic. The theory is that foods that make your body produce acid are harmful.
Why is the alkaline in the small intestine important? ›Finally, the pH in the small intestine is changed through the use of bile - an alkaline substance produced by the liver. Succus entericus or intestinal juice produced by the intestine is also alkaline in nature to allow functioning of enzymes like trypsin, lipase etc.
How is required pH to maintain the stomach and small intestine? ›Gastic glands present on the walls of the stomach release HCI acid. HCI creates an acidic medium, which facilities the action of enzyme pepsin: Bile juice from liver makes the food alkaline in small intestine for the pancreatic enzymes to act.
Why does the small intestine have a more basic environment than the stomach? ›The stomach secretes the strong acid called hydrochloric acid that allows pepsin to work. When stomach contents enter the small intestine, the acid must be neutralized. This is because enzymes in the small intestine need a basic environment in order to work.
Why is intestinal juice slightly alkaline? ›The pH of small intestine is about 7-8 which is slightly alkaline in nature. The pancreas secretes bicarbonate ions in small intestine which also neutralises acidic pH of food from stomach and creates an alkaline pH required in small intestine.
What is the function of the intestinal alkaline phosphatase? ›The four major functions of IAP in maintaining intestinal homeostasis can broadly be categorized into: regulation of bicarbonate secretion and duodenal surface pH, long chain fatty acid absorption, mitigation of intestinal inflammation through detoxification of pathogen-associated molecular patterns and regulation of ...