KEY FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE STOMACH:

Lesser curvature

• Medial surface of the stomach
• Attaches to the lesser omentum

Greater curvature

• Lateral surface
• Attaches to the greater omentum

4 MAJOR REGIONS OF THE STOMACH:

Cardiac region

• Near the heart (“cardia” refers to the heart)
• Cardiac orifice leads from esophagus to stomach
• Cardiac sphincter regulates orifice

Fundus

• Dome-shaped portion
• Bulges superiorly and laterally to the cardiac region

Body

• Middle portion of the stomach

Pyloric region

• Final, distal portion.
• Antrum and canal
• Pyloric orifice leads to duodenum
• Pyloric sphincter regulates orifice

TUNICS OF THE STOMACH

Serosa

• Outer covering

Muscularis externa

• Longitudinal layer
• Circular layer
• Oblique layer

Submucosa and mucosa

• Wrinkle to form gastric folds
• Mucosa comprises millions of gastric pits, which lead to gastric glands.
• Gastric glands produce gastric juice, which is very acidic to chemically digest stomach contents.
• Acidic secretions can be detrimental to body tissues, so specialized mucosal cells protect the stomach wall from degradation.

Clinical correlations:

• Gastric ulcers are lesions in the mucosal lining of the stomach, which can cause pain and bleeding.
  Two common causes of gastric ulcers are:
• Infection of H. pylori bacterium (Heliobacter pylori), which can be treated with antibiotics
• Overuse of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).