High School

The pancreatic juice that neutralizes the acid content of the stomach is ________.

1) Bile
2) Gastric juice
3) Intestinal juice
4) Pancreatic juice

Answer :

Final answer:

Pancreatic juice neutralizes stomach acid due to its sodium bicarbonate content, which creates an optimal pH for digestive enzymes in the small intestine to function. Therefore, the correct option is 4.

Explanation:

The pancreatic juice that neutralizes the acid content of the stomach is pancreatic juice. The pancreas produces a clear digestive fluid that contains water, salts, sodium bicarbonate, and enzymes. The sodium bicarbonate is particularly important because it has an alkaline pH that acts as a buffer for the acidic chyme coming from the stomach, thereby neutralizing it. This creates an optimal environment for pancreatic enzymes to facilitate the digestion of sugars, proteins, and fats in the small intestine.