The structure of the stomach, its divisions and functions. Parts of the stomach: structure, function and features Stomach description

16.08.2020 Information

Nutrition is a complexly coordinated process aimed at replenishing the energy of a living organism through processing, digestion, splitting, and absorption of nutrients. All these and some other functions are performed by the gastrointestinal tract, which consists of many important elements combined into a single system. Each of its mechanisms is capable of performing various actions, but when one element suffers, the work of the entire structure is disrupted.

This is due to the fact that food, entering our body, undergoes multi-stage processing, this is not only the familiar processes of digestion in the stomach and absorption in the intestines. Digestion also includes the assimilation of those very substances by the body. Thus, the diagram of the human digestive system takes on a broad picture. Pictures with captions will help to visualize the topic of the article.

In the digestive system, it is customary to allocate organs gastrointestinal tract and additional organs called glands. The organs of the digestive tract include:

A visual arrangement of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is shown in the figure below. Having familiarized yourself with the basics, it is worth considering the structure of the organs of the human digestive system in more detail.

The initial section of the gastrointestinal tract is oral cavity ... Here, under the influence of teeth, mechanical processing of the received food is performed. Human teeth have a varied shape, which means that their functions are also different: incisors are cut, canines are torn, premolars and molars are crushed.

In addition to mechanical treatment, chemical treatment begins in the oral cavity too. This happens under the influence of saliva, or rather, its enzymes that break down some carbohydrates. Of course, the full breakdown of carbohydrates cannot occur here due to the short stay of the food lump in the mouth. But enzymes saturate the lump, and the astringent components of saliva hold it together, allowing it to easily move to the pharynx.

Pharynx- This tube, consisting of several cartilages, performs the function of carrying the food bolus to the esophagus. In addition to carrying food, the pharynx is also a respiratory organ; 3 sections are located here: the oropharynx, the nasopharynx and the hypopharynx - the last two belong to the upper respiratory tract.

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From the throat, food enters esophagus- a long muscular tube, which also performs the function of carrying food already to the stomach. A feature of the structure of the esophagus is 3 physiological narrowing. The esophagus is characterized by peristaltic movements.

With its lower end, the esophagus opens into the stomach cavity. The stomach has a rather complex structure, since its mucous membrane is rich in a large number of tissue glands, a variety of cells that produce gastric juice. Food stays in the stomach from 3 to 10 hours, it depends on the nature of the food taken. The stomach digests it, impregnates it with enzymes, turns into chyme, then "food gruel" enters the duodenum in portions.

The duodenum belongs to small intestine, but it is worth focusing on it, since it is here that some of the most important elements of the digestion process come - these are intestinal and pancreatic juices and bile. Bile is a liquid produced by the liver that is rich in special enzymes. Distinguish between gallbladder and hepatic bile, they differ somewhat in composition, but perform the same functions. Pancreatic juice, together with bile, intestinal juice, constitute the most important enzymatic factor in digestion, which consists in the almost complete breakdown of substances. Mucous duodenum have special villi capable of capturing large lipid molecules, which, due to their size, are not able to be absorbed by the blood vessels.

Further, the chyme passes into the jejunum, then into the ileum. The small intestine is followed by the large intestine, it begins with the cecum with a vermiform appendix, best known as the appendix. The appendix does not carry any special properties during digestion, since it is a rudimentary organ, that is, an organ that has lost its functions. The large intestine is represented by the blind, colon and rectum. Performs functions such as water absorption, secretion of specific substances, formation feces and, finally, the excretory function. A feature of the large intestine is the presence of microflora, which determines the normal functioning of the entire human body as a whole.

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Digestive glands are organs capable of producing enzymes that enter the digestive tract and digest nutrients.

Large salivary glands. These are paired glands, they are distinguished:

  1. Parotid salivary glands (located in front and below the auricle)
  2. Submandibular and sublingual (located under the diaphragm of the mouth)

Produce saliva - a mixture of secretions from all salivary glands. It is a viscous transparent liquid, consisting of water (98.5%) and dry residue (1.5%). The dry residue includes mucin, lysozyme, enzymes that break down carbohydrates, salts, etc. Saliva enters the oral cavity through the excretory ducts of the glands during meals or during visual, olfactory and auditory stimulation.

Liver... This unpaired parenchymal organ, located in the right hypochondrium, is the largest gland in the human body, its weight in an adult can be approximately 1.5-2 kg. In shape, the liver resembles an irregular wedge, with the help of ligaments it is divided into 2 lobes. The liver produces golden bile. It consists of water (97.5%) and dry residue (2.5%). The dry residue is represented by bile acids (cholic acid), pigments (bilirubin, biliverdin) and cholesterol, as well as enzymes, vitamins, inorganic salts. In addition to digestive activity, bile also performs an excretory function, that is, it is able to remove metabolic products from the body, for example, the already mentioned bilirubin (a breakdown product of hemoglobin).

Hepatocytes are specific cells of the liver lobules; it is from them that the organ tissue consists. They serve as filters for toxins coming from the blood, therefore, the liver has the ability to protect the body from poisons that poison it.

The gallbladder is located under the liver and adjacent to it. It is a kind of reservoir for the hepatic bile, which enters it through the excretory ducts. Here bile accumulates and enters the intestines through bile ducts... This bile is now called gallbladder and has a dark olive color.

The stomach is one of the important components of the system of our body, on which its normal vital activity directly depends. Many are aware of the tasks of this organ, its location in the peritoneum. However, not everyone is familiar with the parts of the stomach. We will list their names, functions, and present other important information about the organ.

What is it?

The stomach is a hollow muscular organ, the upper part of the tract). It is located between the esophagus tube and the small intestine component - the duodenum.

The average volume of an empty organ is 0.5 l (depending on anatomical features, can reach up to 1.5 l). After eating, it increases to 1 liter. Someone can stretch up to 4 liters!

The size of the organ will vary depending on the fullness of the stomach, the body type of the person. On average, the length of a full stomach is 25 cm, an empty stomach is 20 cm.

Food in this organ, on average, stays about 1 hour. Some food can be digested for only 0.5 hours, some - 4 hours.

The structure of the stomach

The anatomical components of an organ are four parts:

  • The anterior wall of the organ.
  • The back wall of the stomach.
  • Large curvature.
  • Small curvature of the organ.

The walls of the stomach will be heterogeneous, they consist of four layers:

  • Mucous membrane. Internal, it is covered by a cylindrical unilamellar epithelium.
  • Submucosal base.
  • The muscle layer. In turn, it will consist of three smooth muscle sublayers. This is the inner sublayer of the oblique muscles, the middle sublayer of the circular muscles, the outer sublayer of the longitudinal muscles.
  • Serous membrane. The outer layer of the organ wall.

The following organs will adjoin the stomach:

  • Above, behind and on the left is the spleen.
  • Behind - the pancreas gland.
  • In front is the left side of the liver.
  • Below - the loops of the skinny (small) intestine.

Parts of the stomach

And now the main topic of our conversation. The parts of the stomach are distinguished as follows:

  • Cardiac (pars cardiaca). Located at the level of the 7th row of ribs. Directly adjacent to the esophageal tube.
  • The arch or bottom of the organ (fundus (fornix) ventricul). Located at the level of the cartilage of the 5th right rib. Located to the left and above the cardinal previous part.
  • Gatekeeper (pyloric) department. The anatomical location is the right Th12-L1 vertebra. Will adjoin the duodenum. Inside it is divided into several more sections - the antrum of the stomach (antrum), the gatekeeper's cave and the gatekeeper's canal.
  • Organ body (corpus ventriculi). It will be located between the fornix (bottom) and the gastric pyloric section.

If you consider the anatomical atlas, you can see that the bottom is adjacent to the ribs, while the pyloric part of the stomach is closer to the spinal column.

Let's now look at the features and functions of each of the above organ departments in detail.

Cardiac department

The cardiac part of the stomach is the initial section of the organ. Anatomically, it communicates with the esophagus through an opening that is limited to the cardia (esophageal lower sphincter). Hence, in fact, the name of the department.

Cardia (a kind of muscle valve) prevents gastric juice from being thrown into the esophageal tube cavity. And this is very important, since the mucous membranes of the esophagus are not protected from hydrochloric acid (the contents of gastric juice) by a special secret. The cardiac region, like other parts of the stomach, is shielded from it (acid) by mucus, which is produced by the glands of the organ.

So what about heartburn? From it, a burning sensation, pain in the upper part of the stomach is one of the symptoms of reverse reflux (the throwing of gastric juice into the esophagus tube). However, do not rely solely on it for self-diagnosis. The upper section is the point at which pains of various natures can converge. Unpleasant sensations, cramps, heaviness in the upper part of the stomach are also consequences of damage to the esophagus, gallbladder, pancreas and other digestive organs.

Moreover, this is one of the symptoms of dangerous conditions and pathologies:

  • Acute appendicitis(especially in the early hours).
  • Spleen infarction.
  • Atherosclerosis of large abdominal vessels.
  • Pericarditis.
  • Myocardial infarction.
  • Intercostal neuralgia.
  • Aortic aneurysm.
  • Pleurisy.
  • Pneumonia, etc.

The fact that pains are associated with the stomach can be indicated by their frequency, the occurrence immediately after a meal. In any case, this will be a reason for a visit to a gastroenterologist - a doctor whose specialization includes diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition, the severity in the initial gastric section may also speak not of a disease, but of a banal overeating. The body, the size of which is not unlimited, begins to put pressure on its neighbors, "complain" about excessive overflow of food.

Organ bottom

The vault, the bottom of the organ, is its fundamental part. But we will be a little surprised to reveal the anatomical atlas. The bottom will not be located in the lower part of the stomach, which logically follows from the name, but, on the contrary, from above, slightly to the left of the previous cardiac section.

In its shape, the vault of the stomach resembles a dome. This is what determines the second name of the bottom of the organ.

The following important components of the system are located here:

  • Own (also called fundic) gastric glands, which produce enzymes that break down food.
  • Secreting glands hydrochloric acid... Why is it needed? The substance has a bactericidal effect - it kills harmful microorganisms contained in food.
  • Glands that produce protective mucus. The one that protects the gastric mucosa from the negative effects of hydrochloric acid.

Organ body

This is the largest, widest part of the stomach. From above, without a sharp transition, it goes into the bottom of the organ (fundic section), from below on the right side it will gradually narrow, passing into the pyloric section.

Here are the same glands as in the space of the fundus of the stomach, which produce digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid, and protective mucus.

Throughout the body of the stomach, we can see the lesser curvature of the organ - one of its anatomical parts. By the way, it is this location that is most often affected by peptic ulcer disease.

A small omentum will be attached to the outer side of the organ, just along the line of lesser curvature. Along the line of great curvature - What are these formations? A kind of canvases consisting of adipose and connective tissue. Their main function is to protect the peritoneal organs from external mechanical stress. In addition, it is the large and small oil seals that will limit the inflammatory focus if it occurs.

Gatekeeper department

So we moved on to the last, pyloric (pyloric) part of the stomach. This is its final section, limited by the opening of the so-called pylorus, which already opens into the duodenum.

Anatomists additionally divide the pyloric part into several components:

  • The gatekeeper's cave. This is the location that is directly adjacent to the body of the stomach. Interestingly, the diameter of the canal is equal to the size of the duodenum.
  • Gatekeeper. This is the sphincter, a flap that separates the contents of the stomach from the mass in the duodenum. The main task of the gatekeeper is to regulate the flow of food from the stomach into the small intestine and prevent it from coming back. This task is especially important. The environment of the duodenum is different from the gastric one - it is alkaline, not acidic. In addition, the small intestine produces its own aggressive bactericidal substances, against which the mucus that protects the stomach is already defenseless. If the sphincter-gatekeeper does not cope with its task, then for a person it is fraught with constant excruciating belching, stomach pains.

Stomach shapes

Surprisingly, not all people have the same organ shape. Three types are most commonly encountered:


Organ functions

The stomach performs a number of important and varied tasks in a living organism:


Removing part of the stomach

In another way, the operation is called organ resection. The decision to remove the stomach is made by the attending doctor if the cancer has affected most of the patient's organ. In this case, not the entire stomach is removed entirely, but only a large part of it - 4/5 or 3/4. Together with her, the patient loses a large and small omentum, lymph nodes organ. The remaining stump is connected to the small intestine.

As a result of the operation to remove part of the stomach, the patient's body is deprived of the main zones of the secretory and motor function of the organ, the exit gatekeeper, which regulates the flow of food into the small intestine. New physiological, anatomical conditions of digestion are reflected for the patient by a number of pathological consequences:

  • Dumping (discharge) syndrome. Insufficiently processed food in a reduced stomach enters the small intestine in large batches, which causes severe irritation of the latter. For the patient, this is fraught with a feeling of heat, general weakness, rapid heartbeat, sweating. However, it is worth taking for 15-20 minutes horizontal position so that the discomfort goes away.
  • Cramping pains, nausea, vomiting. They appear after 10-30 minutes after lunch and can last up to 2 hours. This consequence causes the rapid movement of food through the small intestine without participation in the process of the duodenum.

Dumping syndrome is not dangerous for the life and health of the patient, but sometimes it causes panic, darkens the normal life. A number of preventive measures opium.

After removing part of the stomach, the patient is prescribed the following:

  • Drawing up a special diet. Food should contain more protein, fatty foods and fewer carbohydrates.
  • Lost, reduced stomach functions can be replaced by slow and thorough chewing of food, taking a certain dose of citric acid with meals.
  • Fractional meals are recommended - about 5-6 times a day.
  • Limiting salt intake.
  • An increase in the proportion of proteins and hard-to-digest carbohydrates in the diet. Normal content fat. A sharp decrease in the diet of easily digestible carbohydrates.
  • Restriction in the use of chemical and mechanical irritants of the intestinal mucosa. These include various marinades, smoked meats, pickles, canned products, spices, chocolate, alcoholic and carbonated drinks.
  • Fatty hot soup, milk sweet cereals, milk, tea with added sugar should be consumed with caution.
  • All dishes must be eaten boiled, mashed, steamed.
  • The food intake is extremely slow, with thorough chewing of the pieces of food.
  • A systematic intake of citric acid solutions is required.

As practice shows, full rehabilitation of a patient, subject to strict adherence to preventive measures, occurs in 4-6 months. However, from time to time it is recommended to him an X-ray, endoscopic examination. Vomiting, belching, It's a dull pain"under the spoon" after lunch - this is the reason for an urgent appeal to a gastroenterologist, oncologist.

We have dismantled the structure and the person. The main parts of the organ are the fundus and body of the stomach, cardiac and pylorus. All of them together perform a number of important tasks: digestion and mechanical processing of food, disinfecting it with hydrochloric acid, absorption of certain substances, release of hormones and biologically active elements. People with a removed part of the stomach have to follow a number of preventive measures in order to rehabilitate, artificially replenish the work carried out by the organ.

The stomach is a hollow, muscular organ that is an important part of the digestive system. The primary motor function of the stomach is to work as a reservoir for water and food with their digestion, as well as to move the formed mass. In shape, this organ resembles a hook with a slight curvature, clearly visible on x-rays. Its sizes range from small to large, but the structure is the same for all healthy people.

The structure of the human stomach

It has several conditional parts:

  1. cardiac or entrance;
  2. body;
  3. a gatekeeper that blocks the entrance to the small intestine.

The walls have four layers:

  1. outer;
  2. muscular;
  3. submucous;
  4. slimy.

This sequence creates on the last layer many folds with a transverse and longitudinal arrangement in the area of ​​the bottom and body. This structure makes the mucous membrane enlarged, thereby facilitating digestion and further movement of the products digested to a puree consistency in the aggregate to the small intestine.

Purpose and function of the stomach

The main functions of the stomach, which it possesses, provide invaluable assistance in the performance of the tasks assigned to it in the human body. Some of them are ranked as primary, others as secondary, since they are activated in cases where there are functional disorders... The stomach has several functions.

Secretory

This is practically the main function, which is carried out by numerous glands located on the walls of the organ and responsible for the production of hydrochloric acid and enzymes. And their role in digestion is the processing of a lump of food with the help of gastric juice, which contains the above components. Several types of glands are classified, which provide the secretory function of the stomach:

  • Cardiac, protecting the stomach from self-digestion due to the production of mucoid mucus-like secretions.
  • The main ones, located in the area of ​​the bottom of the organ. The purpose of these glands is to produce gastric juice with pepsin for the digestion of food.
  • Pyloric, producing a secret that protects the mucous membrane of the organ from the acidity of gastric juice.
  • Intermediate, the purpose of these glands is to produce a viscous secretion with an alkaline reaction to protect stomach cells from the negative effects of juice produced for digestion.

Motor function

The essence of this function of the stomach is as follows: the muscle tissue contracts, and the stomach cavity is filled, the incoming food is crushed to a mushy state. Next, the food mixture is mixed with gastric juice and moves to small intestine... This function may decrease due to the ingress of poorly chewed pieces of food, which the throat misses and then they linger in the stomach for a long time, increasing its load and subsequently causing a feeling of heaviness. The motor activity of the organ is provided by three types of muscle contractions:

  • peristaltic, responsible for filling the gastric cavity, grinding incoming products, followed by mixing and promotion;
  • tonic help to mix the chyme;
  • propulsive, designed to move the contents into the duodenum, their functioning is the strongest of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

Endocrine

This function is also known as endocrine function and is very important for the full-fledged life of a person. It is carried out by the endocrine cells of the organ, located in the mucous membrane and producing hormones that control the digestive processes in the body. Here is a list of them:

  1. A gastron that inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid.
  2. Gastrin, produced to regulate the acidity level of gastric juice due to the synthesis of hydrochloric acid, has been confirmed to have an effect on the motor function of the organ.
  3. Bombesin, under the influence of which the mechanism of activation of the release of gastrin is triggered, its effect is traced on the enzymatic function of the pancreas and the contractile movements of the gallbladder.
  4. Somatostatin, which stops the production of insulin with glucagon.
  5. Bulbogastron, designed to inhibit the motor and secretory functions of the stomach.
  6. VIP - is formed in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract to stop the synthesis of pepsin and hydrochloric acid, as well as to relax the smooth muscles of the gallbladder.
  7. Duocritin, which stimulates the secretion of the duodenum.

Defensive ability

The performed protective functions are realized by the production of a special secret that contributes to the destruction harmful microorganisms entering the stomach. Specific anatomical structure helps the body to return poor-quality food and prevent the penetration of harmful components from it into the further located intestine. Thus, it prevents poisoning and protects against its negative consequences.

The anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract is a complex of organs that ensure the vital activity of the body. The diagram of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract is a person's organs sequentially located, and depicted as cavities. Hollow spaces are interconnected and constitute a single channel for acceptance, change in the qualitative structure, and removal of food. The length of the entire canal is about 8.5 - 10 meters. Each hollow (empty from the inside) organ is surrounded by shells (walls) that are identical to each other in structure.

The walls of the gastrointestinal tract

The shells of the hollow channels have the following structure:

  1. From the inside of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, the epithelium is lined - a layer of mucosal cells that are in direct contact with food. The mucous membrane performs three tasks:
  • protection from damage (physical or toxic effects);
  • enzymatic breakdown of nutrients, vitamins, minerals (parietal digestion, carried out in the small intestine);
  • transfer of fluid into the blood (absorption).
  1. After the mucous membrane, a submucous layer is located, consisting of connective tissue. The tissue itself does not have a functional component; it contains numerous venous, lymphoid and nerve accumulations.
  2. The muscular membrane that follows has an uneven thickness in different areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Endowed with the function of moving food through the digestive tube.
  3. The outer layer of the walls is represented by the peritoneum (or serous membrane), which protects the organs from external damage.

The main organs of the gastrointestinal tract

The anatomy of the human gastrointestinal tract is the integration of the parts of the digestive tract and the glands that synthesize the digestive secretion.

The gastrointestinal tract includes the following organs:

  • The initial site is the mouth gap (oral cavity).
  • Muscle tube in the form of a cylinder (pharynx).
  • The muscular canal that connects the stomach sac and the pharynx (esophagus).
  • Hollow food processing tank (stomach).
  • A thin tube about 5 meters long (small intestine). Consists of the initial section (duodenum), middle (jejunum), and lower (ileum).
  • The lower (final) part of the gastrointestinal tract (colon). It consists of: the initial saccular section or cecum with the appendix process, the colon system (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid) and the final section - the rectum.

All parts of the gastrointestinal tract are endowed with certain functions that make up the whole process of digestion, which is the initial complex mechanism metabolism.

Oral cavity

The primary gastrointestinal tract includes:

  • musculocutaneous organ (lips);
  • the mucous membrane lining the cavity (gum);
  • two rows of bone formations (teeth);
  • a movable muscular organ with a fold leading to the gums (tongue);
  • pharynx, limited by a hard and soft palate;
  • salivary glands.

Functional purposes of the department:

  • mechanical grinding, chemical processing and flavoring of food;
  • the formation of sounds;
  • breath;
  • protection against pathogens.

The tongue and soft palate are involved in the swallowing process.

Pharynx

It has the shape of a funnel, localized in front of the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae. In structure, it consists of an upper, middle and lower part (nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx, respectively).

Connects the oral cavity to the muscular canal of the esophagus. Takes part in the processes:

  • breathing;
  • speech production;
  • reflexive contraction and relaxation of muscles to move food (swallowing);

The pharynx is equipped with a defense mechanism against external negative factors.

Esophagus

A flattened muscular canal up to 30 cm in length, consisting of a cervical, thoracic and abdominal part, ending with a cardiac valve (sphincter). A valve closes off the stomach to prevent food and acid from being thrown backward (into the esophagus). The main task of the organ is to move food towards the stomach for its further processing (digestion).

Stomach

The diagram of the stomach includes four main zones, conditionally divided among themselves:

  • Cardiac (supracardial and subcardial) zone. Located at the junction of the stomach and esophagus, it is equipped with a closing pulp (valve).
  • Upper section or vault. Fits on the left side under the diaphragm. Supplied with glands that synthesize gastric juice.
  • Organ body. It is located below the fornix, has the largest volume of all the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, is intended for the temporary storage of food coming from the muscular canal and for its splitting.
  • Gatekeeper or pyloric zone. Placed at the bottom of the system, connecting the stomach and intestines through the pyloric (outlet) valve.
  • hydrochloric (HCl) acid;
  • enzymes (pepsin, gastrixin, chymosin);
  • protein (mucin);
  • enzyme with bactericidal properties(lysozyme);
  • mineral salts and water.

Functionally, the stomach is designed for storing and processing food, absorbing liquids and salts.

Digestion of food occurs under the influence of gastric juice and muscle contractions of the organ. When the stomach is empty, the production of juice stops. The resulting semi-solid substance (chyme) using a vagus ( vagus nerve) is sent to the duodenum.

Small intestine

Performs the main work on food processing (cavity and parietal digestion), acid neutralization, as well as the function of absorption (absorption) of nutrients to deliver them into the bloodstream.

Consists of three zones:

  • Duodenum... Responsible for the work of the output pulp (its timely and regular reduction). It is supplied with gastric, pancreatic, intestinal juice and bile. An alkaline secret is synthesized by glands located in the walls of the organ. Under the influence of these fluids, the process of digestion of the chyme occurs.
  • T oschia gut... The smooth muscle is involved in the digestive process. Having no clear boundaries, it passes into the next zone - the ileum.
  • Ileum... Anatomically covered by the peritoneum from all sides, takes an active part in the breakdown of nutrients and other substances. Ends with an ileocecal sphincter separating the large and small intestine.

In the small intestine, the procedure for splitting food ends.

Colon

The lower zone of the gastrointestinal tract, endowed with the function of absorbing fluid, and the formation of excrement. The organ does not secrete juice, produces a mucous substance for the excrement-forming process.

Divided into several zones:

  • Cecum... It is supplied with a process that does not play a large role in the body - the appendix.
  • The colon system consists of four organic zones (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid) that are not involved in the process of food processing. The functional purpose is the absorption of nutrients, activation of the movement of processed products, the formation, maturation and excretion of excrement.
  • Rectum... The final zone of the digestive tract. Designed for the accumulation of fecal formations. The structure has a strong muscular valve (anal sphincter). The main function is the dynamic release of the intestines from accumulated excrement through the anus.

The complex structure of the human gastrointestinal tract requires careful attention. Malfunctions in the work of one of the organs inevitably entail disturbances in the work of the entire digestive system.

And the glands that take part in the digestion of food. Anatomy of the stomach allows you to understand physiological features the structure, position and functioning of the organ, the main task of which is digestion. The study outline includes external features, the main macro- and microscopic moments, functional features.

Localization and shape of the stomach

The human stomach is a sac-shaped expansion of the digestive tract, designed for temporary storage and partial digestion of food. Its length is 21-25 cm, volume is 1.5-3 liters. The size and shape of the organ depends on its fullness, the age of the person and the state of the muscle layer. In the body, it is located at the top of the epigastrium, the maximum share to the left of the median plane, 1/3 to the right of it. When filled, its anterior wall affects the liver and diaphragm, the posterior wall affects the left kidney, adrenal gland, pancreas and spleen, and the greater curvature affects the colon. Two openings of the stomach connect it to the esophagus and duodenum. The ligamentous apparatus contributes to the maintenance of the organ in its physiological position. Each gastric ligament has its own role:

  • the phrenic ligament connects the bottom of the organ with the diaphragm;
  • splenic - directed from the large bend to the gate of the spleen;
  • the gastro-colon ligament unites the transverse colon, spleen, and stomach;
  • hepatic - the main function of which is to connect the liver with the lower part and the small bend of the stomach.

Organ topography

The stomach is distinguished by the shape of the structure.

The location of the stomach is determined by its shape. The body of the horn-shaped organ will be placed transversely. The hook-shaped stomach takes a half-diagonal position. The elongated organ in the form of a stocking descends vertically, forming an acute angle in the lesser curvature. The topography of the stomach consists in projecting parts of the organ onto the costal arch:

  • the position is determined on the frontal wall of the abdomen at the level of the VI-VII ribs;
  • the bottom (fornix of the stomach) reaches the V rib;
  • doorkeeper - VIII;
  • the small curvature runs below to the left of the xiphoid process, and the large projection runs arcuate from the V to VIII intercostal space.

Normally, the organ is located on the left side of the body, but with systematic overeating, it can shift to the abdominal part of the abdomen.

Stomach functions


Inside the organ are complex processes digestion.

The main function of the gastrointestinal tract is to digest and absorb nutrients. The human stomach performs the main ones: protective, suction, evacuation, motor, secretory, excretory, depositing and others. The motor function is provided by muscular peristalsis, which crushes, mixes and propels the chyme into the pyloric region. From there, there is a move to other departments, of which the digestive system... The secretory role is the formation of secretions with hydrochloric acid, lysozyme, mucus and enzymes. The main ones are: amylase, phosphatase, pepsinogen, ribonuclease and lipase. The evacuation function ensures the removal of low-quality food through the esophagus. In this case, nausea and vomiting develop. The protection of the organ from pathogenic microorganisms and various damages is dealt with by mucus and the enzymatic composition of the internal secret.

Macroscopic structure

The structure provides for two bends (large and small) and 4 sections. The top three are placed vertically with a slope to the right, and the fourth slopes to the right at an angle. The greater curvature of the stomach is accompanied by a cardiac notch that separates the part of the organ of the same name from its bottom. The small (internal) curvature forms an angular notch at the border of the body and the pylorus zone. Parts of the human stomach:

  • Incoming. It begins with an opening from the esophagus. Responsible for the entry of food into the stomach and its non-return in the opposite direction. The cardiac portion is formed by muscle tissue and is tubular in appearance.
  • Bottom (vault or fundic section). The domed part, where the main type of HCl-producing glands is located. If the mucous membrane is smoothed, it means that air has entered the mucous membrane.
  • Body. This is where the deposition and lysis of food takes place.
  • The pyloric section of the stomach. The gatekeeper's cave of the vestibule and the gatekeeper's canal are located at the junction with the duodenum and form the prepyloric section.

Microscopic anatomy of the wall


The mucous membrane is most often damaged.

The wall of the stomach consists of three layers: external - serous, middle - muscular and internal - mucous. The outer shell is an outer film device made of epithelial cells, with nerve fibers. It covers the entire organ, except for both bends and a small area on the dorsum. A sub-serous base is placed under it, ensuring its fusion with the muscle wall. The structure of the muscle layer has a three-level organization. The inner layer is gathered in numerous folds.

What is the mucous membrane?

It is the inner epithelial layer of the gastric wall. Under it is submucous fatty and epithelial tissue containing capillaries and nerve endings. It contains glands that produce gastric secretions, mucus and stomach peptides. The shell is able to collect in axial folds along the lesser curvature and circular in the gatekeeper area. When the organ is filled, the walls will be smoothed. The layers of the stomach are interconnected.

Smoothed folds of the mucous membrane may indicate the presence of gastropathology.

Organ muscles

Ulcers and erosions affect the deep muscle layers.

The structure of the stomach wall also includes the muscle layer. It is made up of myocytes and smooth muscle fibers. Smooth longitudinal, circulatory and oblique muscles provide mixing and movement of internal contents. The outer layer continues from the same at the esophagus. It is thickened at the lesser curvature. Near the gatekeeper, the fibers are intertwined with a circular layer. The circulatory layer is in the middle and more pronounced. It is formed by the annular and striated muscles. This layer covers the entire extent of the stomach. The pyloric part of the stomach is separated from the duodenum by the sphincter, which is an anatomical thickening of this layer. The sphincter takes part in the regulation of the release of the chyme into the intestine and prevents its return. The oblique muscle layer covers the organ with a "support loop", the contraction of which makes the cardiac notch (His angle) noticeable.

Serous membrane

It looks like a smooth, sliding coating formed by epithelial and connective tissue. Normally, it is transparent and elastic. The serous secretion secreted by its glands protects the organ from excessive friction against nearby organs during its expansion and contraction and provides comfort of movement.

Secretion in the stomach


The efficiency of digestion depends on the composition of the gastric juice.

The exocrine activity of the organ is regulated by the humoral nervous system... It contains more than one type of gland, the location determines their name: mucous, cardiac, pyloric, and also fundic glands of the stomach. Gaps between them fills connective tissue... They open with ducts into the cavity of the organ. The glands are formed from the main, parietal and additional cells, each of which produces its own secret.

The main synthesizing cells are pepsinogen, gelatinase, chymosin and lipase; lining - hydrochloric acid, and additional - mucus. HCl activates inactive pepsinogen to pepsin, which breaks down proteins into amino acids, chymosin is involved in the breakdown of milk proteins, and lipase is involved in the breakdown of fats. Determination of lipase levels is the basis for diagnosing pancreatitis. Parietal cells of the stomach produce the Castle factor, which is responsible for the assimilation of cyanocobalamin, which is important for the process of hematopoiesis. More than 10 hormones are also secreted here.