Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does gastrin affect digestion in the stomach?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
human endocrine system
The principal glands of the female and male human endocrine systems.
Gastrin is a digestive hormone that plays a critical role in regulating stomach function when food is present. Released into the bloodstream by G cells in the stomach lining, it travels to gastric cells to stimulate the production of gastric juice.12
This process affects digestion in the following ways:
- Acid Secretion: Gastrin triggers the release of hydrochloric acid, which is essential for breaking down fibrous food matter and neutralizing ingested bacteria.1
- Enzyme Activation: It promotes the secretion of pepsinogen, the precursor to pepsin, a vital protein-splitting enzyme.1
- Motility: Gastrin increases the muscular activity of the stomach, which helps churn food and facilitates the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine.1
The release of gastrin is self-regulating; as digestion progresses and the stomach empties, the increasing acidity of the remaining contents eventually inhibits further gastrin release once a specific pH threshold is reached.2