Stomach, Liver, and Gallbladder Flashcards
Define the stomach:
It is the portion of the alimentary system that is positioned between the esophagus and duodenum
The digestion of food is by 2 mechanisms:
Chemical and mechanical
What are the functions of the stomach?
- Stomach mucosa secretes HCl to maintain a pH of 2.0 and gastric enzymes (mainly PEPSIN) aiding in the reduction of solid foods to a pulp-like liquid - chyme
- Peristaltic action of muscle fibers mixes food with digestive juices, facilitating reduction to chyme
- Acts as a reservoir, empty volume is 50-75 mL, capable of holding up to 2-3 liters
- Site of LIMITED absorption
What are the 5 regions of the stomach?
- Cardiac portion
- Fundus
- Body
- Pyloric antrum
- Pyloric canal
What is the cardiac portion of the stomach?
It connects the esophagus to the body of the stomach
What is the fundus of the stomach?
It is usually filled with gas and in contact with the thoracic diaphragm
What is the body of the stomach?
It is the largest region of the 5 and responsible for the secretory part of the stomach
What is the pyloric antrum?
Transition from the body to the pyloric canal?
What is the pyloric canal?
The terminal part of the stomach, that connects the duodenum and ends as the pyloric sphincter
What is the location of the lesser curvature?
Along the SUPERIOR margin of the stomach and it is associated with the lesser omentum
Where is the greater curvature located?
Along the inferior/lateral margin of the stomach and it is associated with the greater omentum and …..
What ligament is the greater curvature of the stomach associated with?
The gastrosplenic ligament
Where is the cardiac notch located?
Between the junction of the cardiac portion and the fundus of the stomach
Where is the angular notch located?
Along the lesser curvature, defines the border between the body and the pyloric region
What is the gastro-esophageal junction?
The transition from the esophagus to cardiac portion of the stomach occurs at T10 and is where the esophagus passes thru the thoracic diaphragm.
What is the gastro-esophageal junction strengthened by?
The ascending and descending phrenoesophageal ligaments and the thickening of fascia around the esophageal opening.
The esophageal/stomach junction lacks:
A muscular valve
What is the pyloric/duodenal junction?
It marks the location of a true smooth muscle valve called the pyloric sphincter. This valve is regulated by autonomics (sympathetics and parasympathetics) and controls the flow of digested food/liquid from the stomach into the duodenum
What is in contact with the fundus region?
The diaphragm
What is superior to the body and pylorus?
The liver (mostly the left lobe)
What is to the left of the body of the stomach?
The spleen
What is located inferior and posterior to the body of the stomach?
The transverse colon and left colic flexure (aka splenic flexure)
What is anterior to the stomach?
The anterior abdominal wall
What is the bed of the stomach formed by?
It is posterior to the stomach and is formed by the posterior wall of the omental bursa (lesser sac)
Retroperitoneal structures within the bed of the stomach include:
The pancreas, left kidney, left adrenal gland, diaphragm, celiac artery *trunk and proximal branches), splenic artery and vein, terminal part of the superior mesenteric artery and vein.
Which peritoneal structures make up part of the bed of the stomach?
Spleen and transverse colon
Is the stomach freely moving or anchored to something?
Although it is motile and extensible, it is firmly anchored to the diaphragm and posterior abdominal wall in the fundus and superior lacteal aspect of the greater curvature by the peritoneal ligaments derived from the dorsal mesogasrtrum
Describe the gastrophrenic ligament:
Attaches to the lateral (left) surface of the cardiac portion of the stomach and follows the posterior-superior and lateral margin of the fundus and inserts onto the left diaphragm
Describe the gastrosplenic ligament:
The same two sheets of peritoneum then course along the posterior-lateral margin of the greater curvature of the corresponding to the proximal region of the body of the stomach just medial to the spleen. This is the ligament from the spleen to the greater curvature of the stomach
Describe the splenorenal ligament:
The same two sheets of peritoneum making up the gastrosplenic ligament continues to the posterior body wall and attaches to it immediately anterior to the left kidney. The splenorenal ligament contains the terminal branches of the splenic a. and the tail of the pancreas
What is the role of the hepaticduodenal ligament?
Attaches to the superior region of the first part of the duodenum to the liver, maintaining positioning of the pyloric region of the stomach. The heparticduodenal ligament is continuous with the peritoneal sheets making up the lesser omentum and is located laterally (to the right) and contains the hepatic portal vein, the hepatic, cystic and common bile ducts along with the proper hepatic artery including the right and left hepatic arteries
What is the primary source of arterial flow to the stomach?
Provided by the celiac trunk (one of 3 single midline abdominal arteries that supply the viscera)
Where is the celiac trunk located?
Just inferior to the crura of the diaphragm at the level of T12 and it gives rise to 3 primary branches, all of which provide direct supply to the stomach
What are the 3 primary branches of the celiac trunk?
- Left gastric a
- Splenic a
- Common hepatic aa
What does the left gastric artery supply?
The left half of the lesser curvature of the stomach. In the lesser curvature, it forms an anastomosis with the right gastric artery (a branch off of the proper hepatic artery) within the lesser omentum
What does the left gastric artery give rise to?
The ascending esophageal branch which anastomose with the thoracic esophageal arteries to supply the CARDIAC REGION of the stomach
Where is the splenic artery located and what does it supply?
It is a very torturous artery that can be found embedded in the posterior abdominal wall just superior to the superior margin of the body of the pancreas. It gives rise to 3 branches to the pancreas en route to the spleen.
Approaching the spleen, the splenic artery enters the _________ and then does what?
Splenorenal ligament and branches into 5-7 splenic branches that go directly into the spleen and provides 2-3 branches - the short gastric arteries which supply the fundus of the stomach
What single artery does the splenic artery give off at the end?
The gastro-omental artery (aka left gastroepiploic), which follows the greater curvature of the stomach and travels within the greater omentum on the left side. The left gastro-omental artery forms an anastomosis with the right gastro-omental artery
Where is the common hepatic artery located?
It is positioned to the right of the left gastric and splenic arteries and gives rise to two branches
What are the two major branches that the common hepatic artery gives off?
The proper hepatic and the gastroduodenal arteries
What is the first branch that the proper hepatic artery gives off?
The right gastric artery (as the first branch) which supplies the right half of the lesser curvature of the stomach and the pyloric region. It forms an anastomotic connection with the left gastric artery