Gastric juice sits near pH 1.8, corrosive enough to dissolve living tissue, yet the stomach never digests itself thanks to the mucus-bicarbonate barrier coating its lining. The stronger the peristalsis, the harder the contraction waves sweep down the body of the stomach and drive food toward the pylorus. Reflux sends acid climbing into the oesophagus, whose lining has no protective mucus layer and burns; H. pylori burrows beneath the mucus to attack that very barrier.
Gastric juice sits near pH 1.8, corrosive enough to dissolve living tissue, yet the stomach never digests itself thanks to the mucus-bicarbonate barrier coating its lining. The stronger the peristalsis, the harder the contraction waves sweep down the body of the stomach and drive food toward the pylorus. Reflux sends acid climbing into the oesophagus, whose lining has no protective mucus layer and burns; H. pylori burrows beneath the mucus to attack that very barrier.
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