stomach

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stomach

cutaway of an adult human stomach (Carlyn Iverson)

1. 1. The enlarged, saclike portion of the alimentary canal, one of the principal organs of digestion, located in vertebrates between the esophagus and the small intestine.
   2. A similar digestive structure of many invertebrates.
   3. Any of the four compartments into which the stomach of a ruminant is divided.
2. The abdomen or belly.
3. An appetite for food.
4. A desire or inclination, especially for something difficult or unpleasant: had no stomach for quarrels.
5. Courage; spirit.
6. Obsolete. Pride.

1. To bear; tolerate.
2. Obsolete. To resent.

[Middle English, from Old French stomaque, estomac, from Latin stomachus, from Greek stomakhos, gullet, from stoma, mouth.]

For more information on stomach, visit Britannica.com.

The tubular or saccular abdominal organ of the digestive system adapted for temporary food storage and preliminary stages of food breakdown.

In some primitive vertebrates the stomach may be little more than a simple tube quite similar to other portions of the gastrointestinal tract. In other forms the stomach is a distinct, and frequently large, saclike structure of variable shape. Carnivorous forms typically have a better-developed stomach than herbivores, probably reflecting the larger but less numerous feedings characteristic of the former, but exceptions are numerous.

In birds the stomach consists of a proventriculus and a gizzard. The former is well supplied with glands which secrete softening and digestive enzymes; the latter is a strong, muscular grinding organ whose action is often enhanced by the ingestion of small stones.

Mammals have stomachs which vary considerably in structure. Although a single chamber is most common, some mammals, such as cows and their relatives (ruminants), have as many as four. These chambers may have developed either from modifications of the posterior portions of the esophagus or from alterations of the stomach itself.

The human stomach is located beneath the diaphragm, through which the posterior, terminal end of the esophagus passes. The stomach appears as a dilated tube continuous with the distal end of the esophagus. The upper curvature of the stomach is usually above and to the left of the esophageal orifice. This expanded anterior portion is the fundus and is commonly filled with air or gas. The body (corpus) of the stomach is directed toward the attenuated right extremity or pyloric region and is subject to variations in size and shape, depending upon functional activities, habits, disease, and volume of the contents. The pyloric walls are marked by the heavy sphincter muscle which controls the passage of chyme (a semiliquid fluid produced by the mechanical and chemical changes of preliminary digestion) into the duodenum.

The stomach of vertebrates is lined by a mucous membrane that is usually thrown into longitudinal folds called rugae. Most of the surface is covered with mucus-secreting epithelial cells, but scattered throughout the lining are many small glandular pits which are lined with one or more types of secretory cells. See also Digestive system.

The part of the alimentary tract into which the oesophagus (gullet) opens immediately below the diaphragm. A term often used colloquially for belly or abdomen, which it is not; so-called ‘stomach-ache’ arises most commonly from the intestine and is felt near the umbilicus. Pain from the stomach itself is higher — just below the breast bone. The stomach expands to receive a meal, holds it for up to four hours depending on the amount of food, churning it to a pulp and initiating digestion, then passes it on by degrees into the duodenum. These functions depend on its muscular wall and the acid- and enzyme-secreting glands in its lining, all of which are under the control of autonomic nerves.

— Stuart Judge

See alimentary system.

noun

A desire for food or drink: appetite, hunger, taste, thirst. See desire.

verb

To put up with: abide, accept, bear, brook², endure, go, stand (for), suffer, support, sustain, swallow, take, tolerate, withstand. Informal lump². Idioms: take it, take it lying down. See accept/reject.

Definition: endure, tolerate
Antonyms: refuse, reject

An organ in the digestive system, on the left side of the body behind the lower rib cage, that receives chewed food from the esophagus. Tiny glands in the stomach's lining secrete gastric juice, which contains acids, mucus, and enzymes. This fluid, along with the muscular churning actions of the stomach, helps transform food into a thick, semifluid mass that can be passed into the small intestine for digestion.

The curved, muscular, saclike structure that is an enlargement of the alimentary canal between the esophagus and the small intestine. See also abomasum, reticulum (3), forestomachs, gastric.

• avian glandular s. — see proventriculus.
• s. bot — see gasterophilus.
• compound s. — a stomach made up of several compartments, e.g. ruminant stomach comprising forestomachs (reticulum, rumen, omasum) and abomasum.
• s. fluke — see paramphistomum.
• glandular s. — found in horses; includes cardiac, proper gastric and pyloric glandular zones.
• hourglass s. — one shaped like an hourglass.
• s. meridian points — acupoints situated along the stomach meridian.
• s. mesenteries — includes mesogastrium, lesser omentum, greater omentum and omental bursa.
• muscular s. — in birds the gizzard or ventriculus.
• s. tube speculum — see frick speculum, hauptner mouth gag. For cattle there is also an instrument made out of a wooden rod with a hole through the center. This is placed between the cow's molars like a bit and held in position with a poll strap. It works adequately for a probang but is much inferior to the Frick speculum for a stomach tube.
• s. worm — see gnathostoma spinigerum, haemonchus, ostertagia.

Dreaming of one's stomach may indicate that the dreamer has lost his or her appetite for (can no longer stomach) a situation, relationship, or job. The stomach also symbolizes the source of the feelings and the emotional power or capacity to meet or withstand a demand on the feelings (need a strong stomach to handle a situation or event).

Stomach
The location of the stomach in the human body.
Diagram from cancer.gov: * 1. Body of stomach * 2. Fundus * 3. Anterior wall * 4. Greater curvature * 5. Lesser curvature * 6. Cardia * 9. Pyloric sphincter * 10. Pyloric antrum * 11. Pyloric canal * 12. Angular notch * 13. Gastric canal * 14. Rugal folds Work of the United States Government
Latin	Ventriculus
Gray's	subject #247 1161
Nerve	celiac ganglia, vagus[1]
Lymph	celiac preaortic lymph nodes[2]
MeSH	Stomach
Dorlands/Elsevier	Stomach

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (June 2007)

The stomach is a muscular organ of the digestive tract. It is located between the esophagus and the small intestine. The stomach is hollow and sac-shaped. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication (chewing).The stomach produces protease enzymes and hydrochloric acid which kills bacteria and gives the right pH for the protease enzyme to work. The word stomach is derived from the Latin stomachus which is derived from the Greek word stomachos, ultimately from stoma (στόμα), "mouth". The words gastro- and gastric (meaning related to the stomach) are both derived from the Greek word gaster (γαστήρ). The stomach churns food before it moves on to the rest of the digestive system.

Contents 1 Anatomy of the Stomach 1.1 Sections 1.2 Blood supply 1.3 Glands 2 Control of secretion and motility 3 EGF in gastric defence 4 Diseases of the stomach 5 In other animals 6 Pictures 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

Anatomy of the Stomach

The stomach lies between the esophagus and the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). It is on the left upper part of the abdominal cavity. The top of the stomach lies against the diaphragm. Lying behind the stomach is the pancreas. The greater omentum hangs down from the greater curvature.

Two smooth muscle valves, or sphincters, keep the contents of the stomach contained. They are the esophageal sphincter (found in the cardiac region) dividing the tract above, and the Pyloric sphincter dividing the stomach from the small intestine.

The stomach is surrounded by parasympathetic (stimulant) and orthosympathetic (inhibitor) plexuses (networks of blood vessels and nerves in the anterior gastric, posterior, superior and inferior, celiac and myenteric), which regulate both the secretions activity and the motor (motion) activity of its muscles.

In humans, the stomach has a relaxed, near empty volume of about 45 ml. It is a distensible organ. It normally expands to hold about 1 litre of food,^[3] but will hold as much as 2-3 litres(whereas a newborn baby will only be able to retain 30ml).

Sections

The stomach is divided into 4 sections, each of which has different cells and functions. The sections are:

Cardia	Where the contents of the esophagus empty into the stomach.
Fundus	Formed by the upper curvature of the organ.
Body or Corpus	The main, central region.
Pylorus	The lower section of the organ that facilitates emptying the contents into the small intestine.

Blood supply

Blood supply to the stomach: left and right gastric artery, left and right gastro-omental artery and short gastric artery.^[4]

The lesser curvature of the stomach is supplied by the right gastric artery inferiorly, and the left gastric artery superiorly, which also supplies the cardiac region. The greater curvature is supplied by the right gastroepiploic artery inferiorly and the left gastroepiploic artery superiorly. The fundus of the stomach, and also the upper portion of the greater curvature, are supplied by the short gastric artery.

Like the other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach walls are made of the following layers, from inside to outside:

mucosa	The first main layer. This consists of an epithelium, the lamina propria composed of loose connective tissue and which has gastric glands in it underneath, and a thin layer of smooth muscle called the muscularis mucosae.
submucosa	This layer lies over the mucosa and consists of fibrous connective tissue, separating the mucosa from the next layer. The Meissner's plexus is in this layer.
muscularis externa	Over the submucosa, the muscularis externa in the stomach differs from that of other GI organs in that it has three layers of smooth muscle instead of two. inner oblique layer: This layer is responsible for creating the motion that churns and physically breaks down the food. It is the only layer of the three which is not seen in other parts of the digestive system. The antrum has thicker skin cells in its walls and performs more forceful contractions than the fundus. middle circular layer: At this layer, the pylorus is surrounded by a thick circular muscular wall which is normally tonically constricted forming a functional (if not anatomically discrete) pyloric sphincter, which controls the movement of chyme into the duodenum. This layer is concentric to the longitudinal axis of the stomach. outer longitudinal layer: Auerbach's plexus is found between this layer and the middle circular layer.
serosa	This layer is over the muscularis externa, consisting of layers of connective tissue continuous with the peritoneum.

Cross section of stomach wall.

Microscopic cross section of the pyloric part of the stomach wall.

Glands

The epithelium of the stomach forms deep pits. The glands at these locations are named for the corresponding part of the stomach:

Cardiac glands (at cardia)	Pyloric glands (at pylorus)	Fundic glands (at fundus)

Different types of cells are found at the different layers of these glands:

Layer of stomach	Name	Secretion	Region of stomach	Staining
Isthmus of gland	mucous cells	mucus gel layer	Fundic, cardiac, pyloric	Clear
Body of gland	parietal (oxyntic) cells	gastric acid and intrinsic factor	Fundic, cardiac, pyloric	Acidophilic
Base of gland	chief (zymogenic) cells	pepsinogen, rennin	Fundic only	Basophilic
Base of gland	enteroendocrine (APUD) cells	hormones gastrin, histamine, endorphins, serotonin, cholecystokinin and somatostatin	Fundic, cardiac, pyloric	-

Control of secretion and motility

The movement and the flow of chemicals into the stomach are controlled by both the autonomic nervous system and by the various digestive system hormones:

Gastrin	The hormone gastrin causes an increase in the secretion of HCl, pepsinogen and intrinsic factor from parietal cells in the stomach. It also causes increased motility in the stomach. Gastrin is released by G-cells in the stomach in response to distenstion of the antrum, and digestive products(especially large quantities of incompletely digested proteins). It is inhibited by a pH normally less than 4 (high acid), as well as the hormone somatostatin.
Cholecystokinin	Cholecystokinin (CCK) has most effect on the gall bladder, causing gall bladder contractions, but it also decreases gastric emptying and increases release of pancreatic juice which is alkaline and neutralizes the chyme.
Secretin	In a different and rare manner, secretin, produced in the small intestine, has most effects on the pancreas, but will also diminish acid secretion in the stomach.
Gastric inhibitory peptide	Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) decreases both gastric acid release and motility.
Enteroglucagon	enteroglucagon decreases both gastric acid and motility.

Other than gastrin, these hormones all act to turn off the stomach action. This is in response to food products in the liver and gall bladder, which have not yet been absorbed. The stomach needs only to push food into the small intestine when the intestine is not busy. While the intestine is full and still digesting food, the stomach acts as storage for food.

EGF in gastric defence

Epidermal growth factor or EGF results in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival.^[5] EGF is a low-molecular-weight polypeptide first purified from the mouse submandibular gland, but since then found in many human tissues including submandibular gland, parotid gland. Salivary EGF, which seems also regulated by dietary inorganic iodine, plays also an important physiological role in the maintenance of oro-esophageal and gastric tissue integrity. The biological effects of salivary EGF include healing of oral and gastroesophageal ulcers, inhibition of gastric acid secretion, stimulation of DNA synthesis as well as mucosal protection from intraluminal injurious factors such as gastric acid, bile acids, pepsin, and trypsin and to physical, chemical and bacterial agents.^[6]

Diseases of the stomach

Main article: Stomach disease

Historically, it was widely believed that the highly acidic environment of the stomach would keep the stomach immune from infection. However, a large number of studies have indicated that most cases of peptic ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer are caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.

In other animals

Although the precise shape and size of the stomach varies widely between different vertebrates, the relative positions of the oesophageal and duodenal openings remain relatively constant. As a result, the organ always curves somewhat to the left before curving back to meet the pyloric sphincter. However, lampreys, hagfishes, chimaeras, lungfishes, and some teleost fish have no stomach at all, with the oesophagus opening directly into the intestine. These animals all consume diets that either require little storage of food, or no pre-digestion with gastric juices, or both.^[7]

The gastric lining is usually divided into two regions, an anterior portion lined by fundic glands, and a posterior with pyloric glands. Cardiac glands are unique to mammals, and even then are absent in a number of species. The distributions of these glands vary between species, and do not always correspond with the same regions as in man. Furthermore, in many non-human mammals, a portion of the stomach anterior to the cardiac glands is lined with epithelium essentially identical to that of the oesophagus. Ruminants, in particular, have a complex stomach, the first three chambers of which are all lined with oesophageal mucosa.^[7]

In birds and crocodilians, the stomach is divided into two regions. Anteriorly is a narrow tubular region, the proventriculus, lined by fundic glands, and connecting the true stomach to the crop. Beyond lies the powerful muscular gizzard, lined by pyloric glands, and, in some species, containing stones that the animal swallows to help grind up food.^[7]

Pictures

An endoscopy of a normal stomach of a healthy 65-year old woman.

See also

• Peristalsis, muscular movement that occurs in the stomach
• Borborygmus, growling of stomach

References

1. ^ Physiology at MCG 6/6ch2/s6ch2_30
2. ^ stomach at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
3. ^ Sherwood, Lauralee (1997). Human physiology: from cells to systems. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub. Co. ISBN 0314092455. OCLC 35270048. 
4. ^ Anne M. R. Agur; Moore, Keith L. (2007). Essential Clinical Anatomy (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)). Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 078176274X. OCLC 172964542. ; p. 150
5. ^ Herbst RS (2004). "Review of epidermal growth factor receptor biology". International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 59 (2 Suppl): 21–6. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2003.11.041. PMID 15142631. 
6. ^ Venturi S.; Venturi M. (2009). "Iodine in evolution of salivary glands and in oral health". Nutrition and Health 20: 119–134. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} Romer, Alfred Sherwood; Parsons, Thomas S. (1977). The Vertebrate Body. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. pp. 345-349. ISBN 0-03-910284-X. 

External links

Look up stomach in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• "Stomach" article from the Encyclopedia of Nursing & Allied Health, from enotes.com
• Digestion of proteins in the stomach or tiyan
• Site with details of how ruminants process food

v • d • e Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract, excluding mouth (TA A05.3-7, GA 11.1141) Upper GI Hypo- pharynx Piriform sinus spaces: Peripharyngeal space (Retropharyngeal space, Parapharyngeal space) · Retrovisceral space (Retropharyngeal space, Danger space) · Prevertebral space Pterygomandibular raphe · Pharyngeal raphe · Buccopharyngeal fascia · Pharyngobasilar fascia Pharyngeal muscles Esophagus UES, LES Stomach Gastric rugae · gastric pits · cardia/gland · fundus/gland · pylorus/gland · pyloric antrum · pyloric canal · greater curvature · lesser curvature · angular incisure Lower GI Intestine: small Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duodenal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla, Duodenal cap) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Jejunum • Ileum (Terminal ileum) • Ileocecal valve continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds) Intestine: large Vermiform appendix • Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon) continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix) Termination Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton's white line Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle Lymph GALT: Peyer's patches (M cells) digestive system navs: anat of tract,glands,perit,diaphragm/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/congen of d+w/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - mave, appetit, fordøje, tåle, tolerere
v. tr. - tolerere, acceptere

idioms:

• have no stomach    ikke have mave til noget, ikke bryde sig om, ikke have lyst til
• make one's stomach turn    få maven til at vende sig
• on a full stomach    på fuld mave
• on an empty stomach    på tom mave
• sick to one's stomach    få det skidt af noget
• stomach ache    mavepine
• stomach pump    mavepumpe
• stomach upset    oprørt mave, urolig mave, dårlig mave

Nederlands (Dutch)
maag, buik, honger, zin in, accepteren

Français (French)
n. - estomac, ventre
v. tr. - digérer, (fig) encaisser, supporter

idioms:

• have no stomach for    n'avoir aucune envie de
• make one's stomach turn    donner la nausée
• on a full stomach    (faire qch) le ventre plein
• on an empty stomach    (faire qch) l'estomac vide
• sick to one's stomach    (être) profondément dégoûté
• stomach ache    (avoir) mal au ventre
• stomach pump    pompe stomacale
• stomach upset    dérangement d'estomac

Deutsch (German)
n. - Magen, Bauch
v. - ausstehen, ertragen, sich bieten lassen, herunterbekommen

idioms:

• have no stomach for    keine Lust haben
• make one's stomach turn    jmdm. den Magen umdrehen
• on a full stomach    mit vollem Magen
• on an empty stomach    mit leerem Magen
• sick to one's stomach    sehr erregt
• stomach ache    Magenschmerzen
• stomach pump    Magenpumpe
• stomach upset    Magenverstimmung

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ανατ.) στομάχι, (μτφ.) επιθυμία, όρεξη, αντοχή, κότσια
v. - κρίνω (κάτι) ως εύγευστο ή αφομοιώσιμο, αποδέχομαι, χωνεύω

idioms:

• have no stomach    δεν έχω διάθεση για
• make one's stomach turn    ανακατώνω το στομάχι κάποιου, κάνω κάποιον να αηδιάσει
• on a full stomach    με γεμάτο στομάχι
• on an empty stomach    με άδειο στομάχι
• sick to one's stomach    με τάση για εμετό
• stomach ache    στομαχόπονος
• stomach pump    (ιατρ.) αντλία πλύσης στομαχιού
• stomach upset    στομαχική διαταραχή

Italiano (Italian)
inghiottire, digerire, sopportare, stomaco, ventre

idioms:

• have no stomach    non sentirsi in vena
• make one's stomach turn    rivoltare lo stomaco
• on a full stomach    a pancia piena
• on an empty stomach    a stomaco vuoto
• sick to one's stomach    nauseato
• stomach ache    mal di stomaco
• stomach pump    lavanda gastrica
• stomach upset    mal di stomaco
• turn one's stomach    rivoltar lo stomaco

Português (Portuguese)
n. - estômago (m)
v. - agüentar

idioms:

• have no stomach    ter aversão por
• make one's stomach turn    enojar
• on a full stomach    satisfeito
• on an empty stomach    com fome
• sick to one's stomach    com dor de estômago
• stomach ache    dor de estômago (f)
• stomach pump    equipamento para lavagem do estômago
• stomach upset    estômago enjoado

Русский (Russian)
желудок, живот, аппетит, вкус, склонность (к чему-л.), быть в состоянии съесть, быть в состоянии переварить, терпеть

idioms:

• have no stomach    не иметь вкуса (к чему-л.), не испытывать желания (сделать что-л.)
• make one's stomach turn    вызывать отвращение, вызывать тошноту
• on a full stomach    на полный желудок, после еды
• on an empty stomach    натощак
• sick to one's stomach    возмущаться (при мысли о чем-л.), содрогаться до глубины души (при мысли о чем-л.)
• stomach ache    боль в животе
• stomach pump    желудочный зонд
• stomach upset    расстройство желудка

Español (Spanish)
n. - estómago, abdomen, vientre
v. tr. - soportar, aguantar, tragar

idioms:

• have no stomach for    no tener afición a, no tener ánimo o valor para
• make one's stomach turn    revolver el estómago a uno
• on a full stomach    con el estómago lleno
• on an empty stomach    con el estómago vacío, en ayunas
• sick to one's stomach    sentir náuseas
• stomach ache    dolor de estómago
• stomach pump    bomba gástrica
• stomach upset    trastorno gástrico

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - mage, magsäck, högmod, matlust
v. - kunna äta, tåla, fördra, smälta, finna sig i

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
胃, 食欲, 胃口, 肚子, 腹部, 欲望, 志趣, 消化, 忍受

idioms:

• have no stomach    不想做...
• make one's stomach turn    使某人觉得恶心
• on a full stomach    吃饱肚皮..., 饱着肚子...
• on an empty stomach    空着肚子...
• sick to one's stomach    感觉恶心
• stomach ache    胃痛, 肚子痛
• stomach pump    洗胃器, 胃抽器, 胃唧筒
• stomach upset    胃痛, 肚子不舒服

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 胃, 食欲, 胃口, 肚子, 腹部, 欲望, 志趣
v. tr. - 消化, 忍受

idioms:

• have no stomach    不想做...
• make one's stomach turn    使某人覺得噁心
• on a full stomach    吃飽肚皮..., 飽著肚子...
• on an empty stomach    空著肚子...
• sick to one's stomach    感覺噁心
• stomach ache    胃痛, 肚子痛
• stomach pump    洗胃器, 胃抽器, 胃唧筒
• stomach upset    胃痛, 肚子不舒服

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 위, 복부, 식욕
v. tr. - ~을 맛있게 먹다, ~을 참다

idioms:

• have no stomach    마음이 내키지 않다
• make one's stomach turn    기분을 상하게 하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 胃, 腹部, 腹, 食欲, 欲望
v. - 食べる, 消化する, 我慢する, 耐える

idioms:

• have no stomach    好きじゃない
• make one's stomach turn    胸を悪くさせる
• stomach ache    腹痛
• stomach pump    胃ポンプ
• stomach upset    腹痛

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) معدة, بطن, شهيه (فعل) تحمل, أطاق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮קיבה, בטן, תיאבון, אומץ‬
v. tr. - ‮אכל, בלע, עיכל, סבל‬

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