What would happen if HCl is not secreted in the stomach?

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Text Solution:

1. **Understanding the Role of HCl in the Stomach**:
- Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is secreted by the parietal cells in the stomach lining. Its primary role is to create an acidic environment (pH of approximately 1.2 to 2.2) that is essential for the activation of digestive enzymes.

2. **Activation of Pepsinogen**:
- The stomach secretes an inactive enzyme called pepsinogen. HCl is crucial for converting pepsinogen into its active form, pepsin. This conversion is necessary for initiating protein digestion.

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