Stomach

The stomach is a hollow muscular organ located in the upper part of the abdominal cavity between the esophagus and the small intestine. It performs several important functions in the digestive process.

The stomach has the shape of an elongated bag about 25 cm long and a volume of about 1.5 liters. The wall of the stomach consists of three membranes: serous, muscular and mucous. The outside of the stomach is covered with peritoneum, a serous membrane that reduces friction when the stomach moves.

The muscularis propria consists of three layers of smooth muscle: longitudinal, annular and oblique. Contractions of these muscles ensure the mixing of food and its movement towards the intestines.

The mucous membrane is lined with epithelium and contains many glands that produce gastric juice. The composition of gastric juice includes enzymes, hydrochloric acid and mucus.

Main functions of the stomach:

1. Mechanical processing and mixing of food with gastric juice, which promotes its further chemical digestion.

2. Production of gastric juice containing enzymes and hydrochloric acid for the chemical breakdown of proteins.

3. The gradual removal of digested food into the small intestine in the form of a liquid chemical mass - chyme.

Thus, the stomach plays an important role in the digestive process, preparing food for further digestion and absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Stomach dysfunction can lead to various diseases of the digestive system.

The stomach is one of the most important organs in our body. It is located at the center of the digestive system, and its role in this process cannot be overestimated. The functioning of this organ is determined by the complexity of the systems involved in the digestive processes.

The stomach is a cone-shaped muscular organ that forms the upper border of the entrance to the small intestine. The stomach is a reservoir for ingested food after swallowing. At the top there is a cardiac valve between the pyloric part of the stomach and the esophagus. The stomach muscles provide active and passive motor processes that push food through. This organ consists of a mucous membrane with many glands that produce gastric juice, which kills bacteria contained in food to preserve the body itself. At the tip of the stomach or pylorus is the pyloric valve, which separates the stomach from the duodenum. In addition, branches of the vagus nerves enter the stomach, performing motor function. Muscle bundles are adjacent to the walls of the stomach, mixing food and moving it to the upper end of the organ by contracting the semilunar folds.