Gross Anatomy of the Stomach

The stomach is a J-shaped organ connecting the esophagus to the duodenal end of the small intestine in the abdominal cavity.

The size and shape of the stomach can vary significantly, both between individuals and from one meal to another.

A shorter, lesser curvature is present on the medial surface, while a longer, greater curvature forms the lateral surface.

The stomach is divided into four main regions, starting with the cardia, where the ingested food from the esophagus enters the stomach.

Above and to the left of the cardia is the fundus, the dome-shaped upper portion of the stomach that continues into the body or the central region where most gastric juices are secreted.

The surface area for nutrient absorption and gastric juice secretion is increased by the folds in the stomach lining called rugae.

Finally, the pyloric part is the lower funnel, connecting the stomach to the small intestine.

During digestion, a circular layer of muscle towards the duodenal end called the pyloric sphincter regulates the release of chyme or digested food into the duodenum.