Look a little closer
The stomach uses hydrochloric acid and enzymes to break down food, creating an environment harsh enough to damage living tissue.
Its defense is not immunity to acid but a maintained barrier. Mucus traps bicarbonate near the surface, keeping the cells beneath less acidic, while tight cell junctions and rapid tissue renewal limit damage.
When these protections fail, inflammation and ulcers can follow. Digestion works because the stomach continuously separates a destructive chemical process from its own vulnerable wall.
