# Describe the roles of the stomach in the digestion of food.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Biology (0610) — 7.2 Alimentary canal · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The stomach carries out physical (mechanical) digestion by churning / muscular contractions mixing the food
2. Physical digestion increases the surface area of food for enzyme action / chemical digestion
3. Gastric juice / protease enzymes are secreted in the stomach to chemically digest proteins (to amino acids)
4. Hydrochloric acid in gastric juice provides an optimum (acidic) pH for protease / pepsin activity AND / OR kills harmful microorganisms in food

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