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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DS" data-source="post: 856837" data-attributes="member: 556">Why doesn't the stomach digest itself?,The enzyme pepsin is secreted as pepsinogen, which is inactive until it mixes with the hydrochloric acid. About 2-3 litres of gastric fluids are released into the stomach daily, so the stomach wall secretes protective mucus to prevent the stomach from digesting itself.The most common of the epithelial cells forming the stomach wall are mucous cells in fact.Even so, 500,000 epithelial cells of the surface lining are shed every minute, thereby protecting the deeper layers of the stomach wall. This surface layer is replaced completely every three days and the entire lining regenerates itself every two weeks.How did I get to be 56 years old and not know this?</blockquote>