COMMON DISEASE OF THE STOMACH

Have You Got Gastritis?

To tell the truth, gastritis is a common disease for many people. This problem cannot be referred to
as one illness. It is more likely to be a number of various problems which are connected with the
process of inflammation in stomach.

Many things may lead to gastritis: among them we mean drinking a lot of alcohol, long period of
taking of some pills without steroids (like aspirin or Helicobacter pylori). In some cases, this disease
may be a kind of a consequence after some operations, strong infections and traumas. Gastritis can
be also developed because of anemia or autoimmune conditions.

When speaking about the main symptoms, among them we usually distinguish the following: pains in
different parts of stomach. Moreover, it can be even eructation, swelling of abdomen, sickness and
emesis. Moreover, people suffering from gastritis may feel that the stomach is full and that it’s burning
(especially the upper part). If you notice blood while vomiting or your faeces are dark, be careful –
maybe you’ve got a stomach bleeding (and in such a situation exact diagnosis is necessary).
 THE STOMACH

• The upper and lower ends of the stomach contain a ring of muscles
called sphincters, which open and close in response to swallowing,
belching, vomiting, and moving digested foods in the small intestine.
The upper sphincter is the cardiac sphincter. The stomach of a
normal man is a large muscular sac capable of holding about 2 to 4
liters of food and liquids.
• When food is in the stomach, contractions of the muscles walls mix
the food with gastric secretions.
• Digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid are secreted from the walls
of the stomach. Mucus secreting cells coat the stomach lining to
prevent it from digesting itself.
• PEPSIN, the enzyme of the stomach, digests proteins into large
peptides. The hydrochloric acid allows pepsin to work, kills bacteria
and dissolves minerals.

3 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE STOMACH

• Stores food and releases it gradually into the small intestine.

Stomach allows us to eat large meals.
• Mechanical breakdown of food. The churning movements of its
walls turn large pieces of food to smaller ones.
• Enzymatic digestion. The lining of the stomach walls secrete
digestive enzymes and other substances which facilitate digestion.

• DUODENUM - part nearest stomach.

• ILEUM - terminal portion.

 • JEJUNUM - middle section.

CONCLUSION

I therefore conclude that stomach plays a huge role in digesting foods. It

also helps the nutrients spread throughout our body.

QUESTIONS

• Explain the importance of stomach.

• Give the major functions of the stomach and discuss how they
differ.
 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES AGRI-BUSINESS AND
MARINE AND AQUATIC SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
Malita, Davao del Sur

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF BIO. 2

(ZOOLOGY)

“THE STOMACH”

SUBMITTED TO:

Ms. Maria Felez Braulio

SUBMITTED BY:

Armie N. Sarol

BSED 1-a
( March 23, 2010 )