Anatomy of the stomach

Question 1

What is the function of the cardiac notch

Answer 1

The cardiac notch (angle of His) is needed to prevent acid reflux

Question 2

Name the four regions of the stomach

Answer 2

The cardia
The fundus
The body
The pylorus

Question 3

List the layers of the stomach lining.

Answer 3

Mucosa
- columnar epithelium
- lamina propria
- Muscularis mucosae
Submucosa
Muscularis external
- oblique muscle
- circular muscle
- longitudinal muscle
Serosa

Question 4

What is special about the layer of smooth muscle in the stomach.

Answer 4

They have more cells than the rest of the GI tract, because they strengthen the stomach wall and assist with the mixing and the churning

Question 5

What is the blood supply to the stomach?

Answer 5

Right and left gastric - arising from the coeliac trunk
Right gastroepiploic - from the gastroduodenal artery
Left gastroepiploic - from the splenic artery
Short gastric

Question 6

What is the epithelium that lines the stomach, and what does it produce?

Answer 6

Simple columnar epithelium, arranged in a secretory sheet that produces an alkaline carpet of mucus

Question 7

What are the cells found in gastric pits?

Answer 7

Mucus cells (called mucus neck cells)

Question 8

Where are gastric glands most commonly found?

Answer 8

Communicating with the gastric pits in the fundus and body of the stomach, extending deep into the lamina propria

Question 9

Name the cells found in gastric glands and their function.

Answer 9

Parietal cells - produce HCl, bicarbonate and intrinsic factor
- normally found in the proximal part of the pit
Chief cells - produce pepsinogen
- normally found near the base of the gland
More mucus cells
G-cells - secrete gastrin in response to increasing pH levels
D-cells - secrete somatostatin
- inhibits the action of gastrin and histamine
ECL cells - secrete histamine in response to gastrin