THE REACTION OF THE CONTENT OF THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT

Abstract

The various digestive enzymes that are poured into the gastro-intestinal tract require different chemical reactions of the gastro-intestinal content for optimal activity. These reactions vary from one definitely acid for the stomach to one neutral or slightly alkaline for the remaining portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. The changes in reaction of the gastro-intestinal content as it passes through the gastro-intestinal tract, necessitated because of the needs of the various enzymes, have formed the basis for many physiologic problems and have offered the possibility for the development of certain pathologic conditions. The actual changes in the acidity of the gastro-intestinal content at various portions of the gastro-intestinal tract and following various diets are in themselves of considerable physiologic value. The mechanism whereby the changes are graded as the content passes, for instance, from the acid secretion in the stomach to the neutral or alkaline secretion in the duodenum also raises problems