What part of the digestive system releases pepsin?

Pepsin is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the digestion of proteins. It is released in the stomach. The stomach's lining contains specialized cells known as chief cells, which secrete pepsinogen, an inactive form of pepsin. Once pepsinogen is released into the acidic environment of the stomach, it is activated into pepsin.

The stomach also produces hydrochloric acid, which not only activates pepsinogen to pepsin but also aids in breaking down food, killing harmful bacteria, and providing an acidic environment conducive to digestion. Pepsin then aids in the breakdown of proteins into smaller peptides, facilitating further digestion in the intestines. Thus, the stomach is the key site for the release and activation of pepsin in the digestive system.