Medical Health Encyclopedia

Fortunately, the body has provided a defense system to protect the stomach and intestine against these powerful substances:

• The mucous layer, which coats the stomach and duodenum, forms the first line of defense.
• Bicarbonate, which the mucous layer secretes, neutralizes the digestive acids.
• Hormone-like substances called prostaglandins help keep the blood vessels in the stomach dilated, ensuring good blood flow and protecting against injury. (Prostaglandins are also believed to stimulate bicarbonate and mucus production.)

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Disrupting any of these defense mechanisms makes the stomach and intestine lining susceptible to the actions of acid and pepsin, increasing the risk for ulcers.