Is the expanded part of the alimentary tract between the esophagus and the small intestine.

Situated in the epigastric, umbilical and left hypochondriac regions of the abdominal cavity.

It is intraperitoneal digestive organ located btn the esophagus and duodenum.

In most people, the shape of the stomach resembles the letter J.

The stomach has

Two openings

Cardiac orifice

Pyloric orifice

Two curvatures

Greater curvature

Lesser curvature

Two surfaces

Anterior surface

Posterior surface

The stomach is divided for descriptive purposes into four regions by arbitrary lines drawn on its external surface

The cardia, which surrounds the opening of the esophagus into the stomach

The fundus of stomach, which is the area above the level of the cardial orifice

The body of stomach, which is the largest region of the stomach

The pyloric part, which is divided into the pyloric antrum and pyloric canal and is the distal end of the stomach

Serosa

Muscle layer

An outer layer of longitudinal fibres

A middle layer of circular fibres

An inner layer of oblique fibres.

Submucosa

Mucosa: simple columnar epithelium

Mechanical function

Storage function

Chyme formation

Digestive function

Protective function

Hemopoietic function

Excretory function

Arterial supply: branches of coeliac artery

venous drainage is into the portal vein.

Nerve supply

The sympathetic supply to the stomach is mainly from the coeliac plexus

The parasympathetic supply is from the vagus nerves.

Sympathetic stimulation reduces the motility of the stomach and the secretion of gastric juice

vagal stimulation has the opposite effect