Anatomy and Physiology of Stomach

In anatomy, the stomach is a

bean-shaped hollow
muscular organ of the
gastrointestinal tract involved
in the second phase of
digestion, following
mastication.

The stomach lies between

the esophagus and the
duodenum (the first part of
the small intestine). It is on the left side of the abdominal cavity. The top of
the stomach lies against the diaphragm. Lying beneath the stomach is the
pancreas, and the greater omentum which hangs from the greater
curvature.

In humans, the stomach has a volume of about 50 mL when empty. After a

meal, it generally expands to hold about 1 liter of food, but it can actually
expand to hold as much as 4 liters. When drinking milk it can expand to just
under 6 pints, or 3.4 liter.
Functions

• The stomach is a highly acidic environment due to gastric acid

production and secretion which produces a luminal pH range
usually between 1 and 4 depending on the species, food intake,
time of the day, drug use, and other factors.
Combined with digestive enzymes, such an environment is able to
break down large molecules (such as from food) to smaller ones
so that they can eventually be absorbed from the small intestine.
The human stomach can produce and secrete about 2 to 3 liters of
gastric acid per day with basal secretion levels being typically
highest in the evening.
• Pepsinogen is secreted by chief cells and turns into pepsin under
low pH conditions and is a necessity in protein digestion.
• Absorption of vitamin B12 from the small intestine is dependent on
conjugation to a glycoprotein called intrinsic factor which is
produced by parietal cells of the stomach.

• Other functions include absorbing some ions, water, and some

lipid soluble compounds such as alcohol, aspirin, and caffeine.
• Another function of the stomach is simply a food storage cavity.

Sections

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

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

The stomach is famous for its secretion of acid, but acid is only one of four
major secretory products of the gastric epithelium, all of which are
important either to the digestive process or to control of gastric function:
• Mucus: The most abundant epithelial cells are mucous cells, which
cover the entire lumenal surface and extend down into the glands as
"mucous neck cells". These cells secrete a bicarbonate-rich mucus
that coats and lubricates the gastric surface, and serves an important
role in protecting the epithelium from acid and other chemical insults.
• Acid: Hydrochloric acid is secreted from parietal cells into the lumen
where it establishes an extremely acidic environment. This acid is
important for activation of pepsinogen and inactivation of ingested
microorganisms such as bacteria.
• Proteases: Pepsinogen, is secreted into gastric juice from both
mucous cells and chief cells. Once secreted, pepsinogen is activated
by stomach acid into the active protease pepsin, which is largely
responsible for the stomach's ability to initiate digestion of proteins.
• Hormones: The principal hormone secreted from the gastric
epithelium is gastrin, a peptide that is important in control of acid
secretion and gastric motility.

A number of other enzymes are secreted by gastric epithelial cells,

including a lipase and gelatinase. One secretory product of considerable
importance in man is intrinsic factor, secreted by parietal cells that is
necessary for intestinal absorption of vitamin B12.

Enzymes Secreted by the Mucosa

The mucosa is densely packed with gastric glands, which contain cells that
produce digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid, and mucus.

• Mucous cells: secrete an alkaline mucus that protects the epithelium

against shear stress and acid
• Parietal cells: secrete hydrochloric acid
• Chief cells: secrete pepsin, a proteolytic enzyme
• G cells: secrete the hormone gastrin
Anatomy of a Normal Stomach
Picture of a gastritis stomach