What substance neutralizes the acidic chyme once it enters the small intestine?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To tackle this question, let's identify what happens when chyme moves into the small intestine and which substances act there.
Option 1: amylase. This enzyme digests starch and is active in the mouth and small intestine, but it does not neutralize stomach acidity; its role is carbohydrate digestion, not pH buffering.
Option 2: pepsin. Pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme that works best in the acidic environment of the stomach. Once chyme reaches the small intestine, the pH is buffered to be less acidic, and pepsin is no longer active, so it does not serve as a neutralizing agent there.
Option 3: bile. Bile aids fat digestion by emulsifying fats and contains bicarbonate that helps neutralize some acidity, but its primary function is emulsification, not acting as the main neutralizing agent for chyme entering the intestine.
Option 4: bicarbonate. This is the key neutralizing agent in the small intestine. Pancreatic juice contains sodium bicarbonate (and other bicarbonates) which quickly neutralizes the acidic chyme, raising the pH to a level suitable for intestinal enzymes to function.
Option 5: glycogen. Glycogen is a storage form of glucose in the liver and muscles; it plays no role in neutralizing chyme or in intestinal pH regulation.
Summarizing, the central mechanism for neutralizing acidic chyme in the small intestine is the delivery of bicarbonate from pancreatic juice, which buffers the acid and facilitates enzyme activity in a more neutral pH environment.

2025 Fall HHS 115 Final Exam PRACTICE QUIZ

What substance neutralizes the acidic chyme once it enters the small intestine?

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