Stomach | |
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The location of the stomach in the body. | |
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Diagram from cancer.gov: * 1. Body of stomach * 2. Fundus * 3. Anterior wall * 4. Greater curvature * 5. Lesser curvature * 6. Cardia * 9. Pyloric sphincter * 10. Pyloric antrum * 11. Pyloric canal * 12. Angular notch * 13. Gastric canal * 14. Rugal folds Work of the United States Government |
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Latin | Ventriculus |
Gray's | subject #247 1161 |
Nerve | celiac ganglia, vagus[1] |
Lymph | celiac preaortic lymph nodes[2] |
MeSH | Stomach |
Dorlands/Elsevier | Stomach |
In most mammals, the stomach is a hollow, muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract (digestive system), between the esophagus and the small intestine. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication (chewing). The word stomach is derived from the Latin stomachus,[3] which derives from the Greek word stomachos (στόμαχος). The words gastro- and gastric (meaning related to the stomach) are both derived from the Greek word gaster (γαστήρ). The stomach churns food before it moves on to the rest of the body.
This article is primarily about the human stomach, though the information about its processes are directly applicable to most mammals.[4] A notable exception to this is cows. For information about the stomach of cows, buffalo and similar mammals, see ruminants.