Stomach

Major functions of the stomach are:

  • storage of food
  • mixing of the food with gastric secretions to form chyme
  • emptying of the contents into the small intestine at a rate that is proper for digestion and absorption

Main parts include:

Fundus

Body

Antrum

  • The entrance and exit to the stomach are protected by sphincters. The lower pyloric sphincter is an anatomical sphincter with a well formed circular muscle layer. The lower eosophagel sphincter is a physiological sphincter. It is formed by the acute entry of the eosophagus into the stomach as well as by muscular fibres of the diaphragm that encompasses the eosophagus.

  • The lower eosophagel sphincter closes as the stomach distends as well as closing during inspiration. Both actions inhibit reflux.