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Stomach Anatomy

Key features and functions of the stomach:
Lesser curvature
  • Medial surface of the stomach
  • Attaches to the lesser omentum
Greater curvature
  • Lateral surface
  • Attaches to the greater omentum
4 major regions of the stomach:
Cardiac region
  • Near the heart ("cardia" refers to the heart)
  • Cardiac orifice leads from esophagus to stomach
  • Cardiac sphincter regulates orifice
Fundus
  • Dome-shaped portion
  • Bulges superiorly and laterally to the cardiac region
Body
  • Middle portion of the stomach
Pyloric region
  • Final, distal portion.
  • Antrum and canal
  • Pyloric orifice leads to duodenum
  • Pyloric sphincter regulates orifice
Tunics of the Stomach
Serosa
  • Outer covering
Muscularis externa
  • Longitudinal layer
  • Circular layer
  • Oblique layer
Submucosa and mucosa
  • Wrinkle to form gastric folds
  • Mucosa comprises millions of gastric pits, which lead to gastric glands.
  • Gastric glands produce gastric juice, which is very acidic to chemically digest stomach contents.
  • Acidic secretions can be detrimental to body tissues, so specialized mucosal cells protect the stomach wall from degradation.
Clinical correlations:
  • Gastric ulcers are lesions in the mucosal lining of the stomach, which can cause pain and bleeding.
Two common causes of gastric ulcers are:
  • Infection of H. pylori bacterium (Heliobacter pylori), which can be treated with antibiotics
  • Overuse of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).