Your stomach is full of strong acid that helps break down food. Parietal cells are the tiny acid factories that make it.
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The inside of your stomach is covered with millions of tiny pits. Deep in these pits are parietal cells. They are big and roundish.
Each one has deep little canals inside it where the acid is made. It's also packed with mitochondria, the cell's power stations, because making acid takes lots of energy.
Stomach acid is strong enough to kill many germs that sneak in with your food. So parietal cells help protect you too!
When you smell, see, or eat food, parietal cells get the signal and pump acid into the stomach. The acid helps break food down and kills many germs.
Why doesn't the acid hurt your stomach? Other cells make a thick layer of mucus that coats and protects the stomach wall.
Parietal cells have one more job. They make a helper that your body needs to take in vitamin B12, which keeps your blood and nerves healthy.
Scroll up to the 3D model and press Make acid to watch acid pour out of the cell.
By Operation Ouch. A fun video for kids.
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