A proenzyme, the antecedent of the enzyme pepsin. A substance contained in the form of granules in the peptic cells of the gastric glands. It is readily convertible into pepsin. Also called propepsin.

pepis = digestion + gennan = to produce; a precusor of pepsin = enzyme that aids digestion.

precursor of pepsin; stored in the stomach walls and converted to pepsin by hydrochloric acid in the stomach