A J-shaped muscular sac that stores swallowed food and begins protein digestion through acid and enzymes.
Structure
The stomach has four regions: the cardia near the esophagus, the rounded fundus, the central body, and the pylorus that connects to the duodenum. Its inner lining is folded into rugae that flatten as the organ fills.
Secretions
Gastric glands in the mucosa contain chief cells that release pepsinogen, parietal cells that release hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor, and G cells that release the hormone gastrin to control acid output.
Mixing
Three muscle layers, including unique oblique fibers, churn the contents at roughly three contractions per minute. The pyloric sphincter releases small amounts of chyme into the small intestine at a controlled rate.
Find more body parts by letter
Stomach starts with S and ends with H. Browse other body parts along the same letter.
Body Parts that contain a letter from "Stomach":