• is an organ between the esophagus and the small intestine lying crosswise in the abdominal cavity beneath the diaphragm

• Is a muscular, elastic, pear-shaped bag measuring 12 inches long and 6 inches wide (at its widest point)

• Has the capacity to store 1qt or .94 liters in an adult

• It stores swallowed food.

• It mixes the food with stomach acids.

• Then it sends the mixture on to the small intestine.

•Cardiac/esophageal sphincter- the connection between the stomach and esophagus which prevents food from passing back.

•Pyloric sphincter-the connection between the stomach and duodenumwith the same role as cardiac sphincter.

Chyme- food in the area of duodenum characterized as a semi-solid, soapy mixture.

Cardia is the first portion of thestomach and is where food contentpasses from the esophagus into thestomach. The acids and enzymesreferred to as the gastric juices aremanufactured in the cardia.

Fundus stores undigested food and also the gasesreleased from the chemical digestion of food.

Corpus is the body of the stomach and the largest of thefour parts that make up the stomach. This is where thebulk of the partial digestion occurs.

Pylorus is connected to the duodenum or the beginningof the small intestine.

• Mucosa

-innermost layer and is where the stomach acid and digestive

juices are made

• Submucosa

-supports mucosa and is surrounded by

• Muscularis

-a layer of muscle that moves and mixes the stomach contents

• Serosa

- Covering and the outermost layer of the stomach

•Gastrin~causes the stomach to produce an acid for dissolving and digesting food

•Secretin~causes the pancreas to send out digestive juice that is rich in bicarbonate

•CCK ~causes the pancreas to grow and to produce the enzyms of pancreatic juice.

• IndigestionAlso called dyspepsia, indigestion is a term used todescribe a feeling of fullness or discomfort during orafter a meal. It can be accompanied by burning or painin the upper stomach.

• Gastroesophageal refluxStomach contents, including acid, can travel backwardup the esophagus. There may be no symptoms, orreflux may cause heartburn or coughing.

• GERDWhen symptoms of reflux become bothersome oroccur frequently, they’re called GERD.

• Gastric ulcer

An erosion in the lining of the stomach, often causingpain and/or bleeding. Gastric ulcers are most oftencaused by NSAIDs or H. pylori infection.

• Peptic ulcer disease

Peptic ulcers are holes or breaks in the protective liningof the duodenum or the stomach - areas that comeinto contact with stomach acids and enzymes.

• Zollinger- Ellison syndrome

One or more tumors that secrete hormones that leadto increased acid production. Severe GERD and pepticulcer disease result from this rare disorder