Synonyms: Ventriculus, Gaster
German: Magen
The stomach is the hollow organ interposed between the esophagus and the duodenum in which the first steps of digestion take place. In its most primitive form, it already is present in the Cnidarians (corals, jellyfish, sea anemones and freshwater polyps).
The stomach is a tube to sack-shaped organ that can be found in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen slightly below the diaphragm. Due to its curved shape, it has a convex stomach curvature turned to the left, and a concave curvature turned to the right and cranial side. The supplying vessels of the stomach run along their side. Their Latin names are:
The stomach is divided into four parts that all have a different histology and function. One can differentiate between:
The superior stomach aperture is called "upper mouth of the stomach" or Ostium cardiacum, the inferior stomach aperture is the "lower mouth of the stomach" or Ostium pyloricum.
The stomach has an intraperitoneal position; as evolutionary relict, it has two mesogastriums mesenteries) that develop as greater omentum or lesser omentum as well as the connections between the stomach and the neighboring organs, and that include the omental bursa.
The arterial supply of the stomach is ensured by various blood vessels that all originate in the celiac trunk and form numerous anastomoses among each other:
The venous drainage of the stomach
As other parts of the digestive tract, also the stomach has an autonomously working nervous system (enteric nervous system). The autonomous activity of the stomach is regulated by the following efferences:
The parasympathetic fibers come from both vagus nerves. Since there are two vagal trunks on the esophagus, both the anterior and posterior gastric plexus, which supply the front or rear wall (Paries anterior and Paries posterior) of the stomach, originate there. Frequently, some small branches (Rami pylorici) leave the vagal trunks directly after passing the diaphragm (esophageal hiatus) to draw towards the pylorus. On the way there, they draw towards the hepatic portal together with the hepatic branches at first, while afterwards reaching the pylorus continuing in caudal direction in the lesser omentum. An activation of the parasympathetic nervous system leads to an increased of gastric motility and secretion, as well as to vascular dilatation (vasodilatation).
The sympathetic innervation is provided by postganglionic nerve fibers from the celiac ganglia which draw towards the stomach together with the arteries. The greater splanchnic nerve is the main nerve that gives off the preganglionic fibers and thereby makes an essential contribution to the sympathetic innervation. An activation of the sympathetic nervous system leads to an inhibition of gastric motility and reduces gastric secretion. Additionally, it causes vasoconstriction.
The stomach is schematically characterized by the same wall structure as all other sections of the gastrointestinal tract. Underneath the gastric mucosa you can find a submucosal layer of connective tissue; a three-layered, winding muscular coat (Tunica muscularis) ensures the onward transport of the chyme and its mixing via coordinated contractions of the smooth muscles (peristalsis).
The stomach mucosa has additional glands, the so-called gastric glands. One can differentiate between:
In these glands, you can find various types of cellls: Especially in the cardiac area, you can find mucous cells secreting mucus, while the chief cells of the corpus area mainly produce pepsinogen. Additionally, there are parietal cells that secrete protones via a luminal H+-K+-Adenosintriphosphatase and therewith are responsible for the acidic gastric pH value. Moreover, they secrete intrinsic factor.
The stomach has manifold tasks in the digestion process that go far beyond the simple uptake of the comminuted food. Stomach motility and the continuous secretion of gastric juice, whose most aggressive component contains gastric acid, play a central role in this process.
The stomach takes over the first part of digestion and is subject to a complex endocrine regulation in its secretory and mechanical function. Proteins are initially degraded by an acidification of the chyme with gastric acid and addition with pepsin and cathepsin. This leads to a denaturation or moisture expansion of the proteins, and their splitting into smaller polypeptide fragments. Moreover, the myogenic gastric peristalsis ensures thorough mixing of the chyme, which effects an emulsification of the fats contained in the food and optimizes the fat digestion. Carbohydrate digestion in the stomach is suspended since the activity of the alpha-amylaseis stopped by the acidic gastric pH value.
The stomach is able to store food due to its elasticity and sphincter muscles. Thus, it ensures an uniform "smoothed" onward transport of the chyme to the distal sections of the intestines.
Tags: 3D model, Digestion, Hollow organ, Intestine, Stomach
This page was last edited on 12 October 2016, at 14:57.
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