Which condition involves injury to the mucosa of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum due to acid and pepsin?

The condition characterized by injury to the mucosa of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum due to the corrosive effects of acid and pepsin is peptic ulcer disease. This condition involves the formation of ulcers, which are open sores that develop on the lining of these digestive organs when excessive acid and digestive enzymes like pepsin overwhelm the protective mucus layer.

In peptic ulcer disease, factors such as the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection, the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and increased stomach acid production contribute to this damage. The resulting ulcers can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and indigestion, and may also lead to complications like gastrointestinal bleeding if the ulcers penetrate deeper layers of the stomach or duodenal wall.

While gastritis also indicates inflammation of the stomach lining and gastroesophageal reflux relates to the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus, they do not specifically denote ulcer formation and the structural damage caused by acid and pepsin. Stomatitis refers to inflammation within the oral cavity, which is unrelated to the conditions affecting the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum.