gastric juice n a thin watery acid digestive fluid secreted by the glands in the mucous membrane of the stomach and containing 0.2 to 0.4 percent free hydrochloric acid and several enzymes (as pepsin)
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the liquid secreted by the gastric glands of the stomach. Its main digestive constituents are hydrochloric acid, mucin, rennin, and pepsinogen. The acid acts on pepsinogen to produce pepsin, which functions best in an acid medium. The acidity of the stomach contents also kills unwanted bacteria and other organisms that have been ingested with the food. Gastric juice also contains intrinsic factor, which is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12.
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the liquid secretion of the gastric glands, consisting primarily of hydrochloric acid and pepsin.Medical dictionary. 2011.