Final answer:
The stomach primarily secretes hydrochloric acid and mixes food with gastric juices. It creates an acidic environment for protein digestion begun by enzymes like pepsin and also continues the digestion of carbohydrates and fats.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Roles of the Stomach During Digestion and Absorption
The stomach fulfills several essential functions in the digestive system beyond being a temporary holding chamber for food. To clarify the specific roles it plays during digestion and absorption, let's focus on the following:
To answer the multiple-choice question, the correct functions of the stomach during digestion and absorption are the secretion of hydrochloric acid (1) and the mixing of food with gastric juices (2). The other options presented, like the absorption of proteins (3), secretion of saliva (4), disintegration of fats into fatty acids (5), and secretion of bile (6), are inaccurate in this context or do not primarily take place in the stomach.