The Stomach Flashcards
Why is very little absorbed in the stomach?
Thick layer of mucosa
Stomach has unique oblique muscle layer. What is purpose of this?
Enables vigorous movement to break found down and mix with stomach secretion
What are the 4 main anatomical divisions of the stomach?
- Cardia 2. Fundus 3. Body 4. Pylorus
Where is the cardia?
Surrounds the superior opening of the stomach at the T11 level
Where is the fundus?
The rounded, often gas filled portion superior to and left of the cardia
Where is the body?
The large central portion inferior to the fundus
Were is the pylorus?
This area connects the stomach to the duodenum
What is the pylorus divided into?
- Pyloric antrum 2. Pyloric canal 3. Pyloric sphincter
What do the medial and lateral borders of the stomach form?
Are curved, forming the lesser (medial surface) and greater (lateral surface) curvatures
What surface forms the lesser curvature?
Medial surface
What surface forms the greater curvature?
Lateral surface
Where does the greater curvature arise? Where does it end?
At the cardiac notch, arching backwards and passing inferiorly to the left. It curves to the right as it continues medially to reach the pyloric antrum.
What supplies the greater curvature?
The short gastric arteries and the right and left gastro-omental arteries supply branches to the greater curvature
Which curvature is longer?
Greater curvature
Describe shape of greater curvature
Long, convex
Describe shape of lesser curvature
Shorter, concave
What is the most inferior part of the lesser curvature called? What does it indicate?
The angular notch Indicates the junction of the body and pyloric region
What does the lesser curvature give attachment to?
Hepatogastric ligament
What is the lesser curvature supplied by?
The left gastric artery and right gastric branch of the hepatic artery
What is found superior to the stomach?
Oesophagus and left dome of diaphragm
What is found anterior to the stomach?
Diaphragm, greater omentum, anterior abdominal wall, left lobe of liver, gall bladder
What is found posterior to the stomach?
Lesser sac, pancreas, left kidney, left adrenal gland, spleen, splenic artery, transverse mesocolon
How many sphincters of the stomach are there? Where are they located? What is their function?
2 - located at each orifice. They control the passage of material entering and exiting the stomach. 1. Inferior oesophageal sphincter 2. Pyloric Sphincter
Where does the oesophagus pass through the diaphragm? What level is the inferior oesophageal sphincter (LES)?
Through the oesophageal hiatus at T10 Descends a short distance to the inferior oesophageal sphincter at the T11 level
What does the inferior oesophageal sphincter mark?
The transition point between the oesophagus and stomach
Where is the superior oesophageal sphincter located?
In the pharynx
What is function of inferior oesophageal sphincter?
It allows food to pass through the cardiac orifice and into the stomach and is not under voluntary control.
What does the LES and cardia (upper) region secrete?
- Mucus - HCO3-
What is the motility role of the LES and cardia region?
Prevention of reflux Entry of food Regulation of belching
Where is the pyloric sphincter?
Between the pylorus and the first part of the duodenum
What is function of pyloric sphincter?
It controls of the exit of chyme (food and gastric acid mixture) from the stomach
How does the pyloric sphincter differ from the inferior oesophageal sphincter?
This is an anatomical sphincter. It contains smooth muscle, which constricts to limit the discharge of stomach contents through the orifice.
When does emptying of the stomach occur?
Occurs intermittently when intragastric pressure overcomes the resistance of the pylorus
Why is the pylorus normally contracted?
So that the orifice is small and food can stay in the stomach for a suitable period.
What is effect of gastric peristalsis?
Pushes the chyme through the pyloric canal into the duodenum for further digestion
What does the fundus and body region (middle) secrete?
H+ Intrinsic actor Mucus HCO-3 Pepsinogens Lipase
What is the motility function of the fundus and body region?
Reservoir Tonic force during emptying
What does the antrum and pylorus (inferior) region secrete?
- Mucus - HCO3-
What is the motility function of the antrum and pylorus?
Mixing Grinding Sieving Regulation of emptying
What region of the stomach is responsible for accepting and holding food?
Fundus and body –> relaxation and accommodation
What region of the stomach is responsible for churning and grinding food?
Antrum
What region of the stomach is responsible for emptying?
Antrum and pylorus
What does accommodation of the stomach depend on?
- Vago-vagal reflex - Stretch sensors signalling via the vagus
Describe the vago-vagus reflex of accommodation of the stomach?
Descending signals (via the vagus) act on the enteric nervous system Results in relaxation and dilation of the fundus and body of the stomach
What does accommodation of the stomach allow?
Up to about 1 litre of food to be stored in the stomach with very little rise in pressure.
How can the antral pump adapt to the type of food in the stomach?
The relative stillness of the fundus and body: occasionally peristaltic waves squeeze off another “bite”, and pass it to the antral pump The way the antral pump can adapt to the type of food in the stomach: liquid is allowed to pass through the pyloric sphincter, while thicker material is churned and ground until it is smooth enough to be passed to the duodenum.
What size particles cannot pass the pyloric sphincter?
Particles larger than 1-2mm
How does duodenum control gastric emptying?
- Senses delivery of acid, amino acids and lipids - Secretes hormones (CCK, secretin, GIP) which decrease gastric motility and emptying - Feedback to enteric nervous system
What are the phases of gastric secretion?
- Cephalic phase 2. Gastric phase 3. Intestinal phase
Describe cephalic phase
Sight/thought of food –> cerebral cortex –> hypothalamus and medulla oblongata –> vagus nerve –> stimulates stomach secretory activity (conditioned reflex) Loss of appetite (e.g. depression) –> cerebral cortex –> lack of stimulation to parasympathetic centre –> inhibits stomach secretory activity