A New Look at the Gross Anatomy of the Stomach to Understand How It Functions

Abstract

The anatomy of any organ in the human body indicates its function. Understanding the structure of the stomach can help in understanding how it functions. In this short review, we have tried to clarify the gross anatomy of the stomach in relation to its proper function. The stomach is a hollow organ, located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. Its domed upper part, called the fundus, lies cranial to the cardiac orifice, or in other words, above the entrance to the stomach from the esophagus. This gas-filled area helps the stomach perform its function of breaking down and churning the food that enters the body of the stomach. Furthermore, the diaphragm separates the fundus of the stomach from the heart and left lung. The largest part of the stomach, called the body, is the section that lies directly below the upper "cardiac" orifice of the stomach, and receives swallowed food. The body of the stomach leads to a horizontal section called the pylorus, which terminates at the sphincter muscle in the distal “pyloric” orifice. The strong pyloric sphincter muscle keeps food inside the stomach, where it is emulsified and digested, then it opens to direct the food into the duodenum. To perform the mechanical breakdown of food properly, the fundus must be empty of food and the body of the stomach must contain fluids that help emulsify the food. Any attempt to completely fill the stomach with food while eating may hinder the digestive process. Filling of the stomach may also compress the chest cavity, including the lungs and heart, which may lead to dyspnea and palpitation. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid completely filling the stomach with food while eating, as this is crucial for proper digestion and, consequently, good health.