Gastrointestinal Tract - Stomach Flashcards
Where is the stomach located?
2
Inferior to the diaphragm
Upper left quadrant of the abdominal cavity
List the four main functions of the stomach.
Stores ingested food
Mechanical breakdown
Secretes enzymes and acids
Secretes intrinsic factor (IF)
What does the stomach store?
Ingested food
What does the stomach secrete?
3
Enzymes
Acids
Intrinsic factor
Why does the stomach secrete enzymes and acid?
To break chemical bonds of ingested food
What happens if not enough intrinsic factor is secreted?
Not enough IF leads to pernicious anaemia
Describe the structure of the stomach. (5)
Greater curvature
Lesser curvature
Oblique angle
Folds -> rugae ->pits -> glands
Receptors
What are the names for the two types of curvature in the stomach?
Greater and lesser curvature
What angle is the stomach at?
An oblique angle
Why is the angle of the stomach important?
This means the stomach is always higher than the pyloric sphincter and the body of the stomach
What is the name given to the area where the oesophagus meets the stomach?
The pyloric sphincter
Why does the oesophagus need to be above the pyloric sphincter?
To prevent reflux
What puts you at risk of reflux?
Being obese -> large amounts of fat around the stomach leads to an increased pull of gravity on the stomach leading to a more horizontal stomach -> causing reflux
How much liquid can the stomach hold when not stretched?
One litre
How much liquid can the stomach hold when it is stretched?
Four litres
What do the folds of the stomach create?
Rugae
What are rugae?
Folds of the stomach
What do rugae form?
Pits
What forms pits in the stomach?
Rugae
What do pits in the stomach form?
Glands
What forms glands in the stomach?
Pits
How do the glands in the stomach work?
They secrete their products out between rugae
What receptors are found in the stomach?
3
Mechanoreceptors
Osmoreceptors
Chemoreceptors
Give an example of a mechanoreceptor.
Stretch receptors
How do osmoreceptors work?
They determine osmolarity of surrounding concentrations -> determine what response is needed to digest a substance with a high concentration of protein
How do chemoreceptors work in the stomach?
They determine how acidic a substance is and organise a suitable response to digest the substance
What is the overall function of the receptors in the stomach?
The detect what is in the stomach and what is happening in the stomach