Stomach:

The Stomach is a J- shaped dilated portion of the alimentary tract situated in the epigastric, umbilical and left hypochondriac region of the abdominal cavity.

STRUCTURE:
POSITION:Left hypochondriac region of the abdominal cavity. SHAPE:Complete J- shaped. PARTS: (1) FUNDUS (2) BODY (3) ANTRUM CELLS: Chief cells,Parietal cells,Mucus cells,G cell and ECL cells. SPHINTERS: (1) Cardiac Sphinter (2) Pyloric Sphinter LAYERS: Same layers as alimentary canal but some modified. Adventitia. Muscle layer: o An outer layer of longitudinal fibres. o A middle layer of circular fibers o An inner layer of oblique fibers. Submucosa. Mucosa: o Rugae like arrangement.

FUNCTIONS:
(1) temporary storage allowing time for the digestive enzymes,pepsins to act (2) chemical digestion pepsins convert proteins to polypeptide (3) Limited absorption of alcohol and some lipid soluble drugs (4) Digestion of food (5) Onward movement by peristalsis (6) Non specific defence against microbes provide by hydrochloric acid in gastric juice (7) production of intrinsic factor needed for absorption of vitamin B12 in the terninal ileum (8)Mechanical breakdown three smooth muscles layers enable the stomach to act as churn, gastric juice added to liquefied to chyme.

Digestive Process:
Before food is even in sight, the brain prepares the body for digestion. The mere thought of food can trigger a release of chemicals in the stomach. The process of digestion then continues in the mouth, proceeding on into the stomach and then ending in the intestines.

Phases of Digestive Process:

Cephalic phase - This phase occurs before food enters the stomach and involves preparation of the body for eating and digestion. Sight and thought stimulate the cerebral cortex. Taste and smell stimulus is sent to the hypothalamus and medulla oblongata. After this it is routed through the vagus nerve. Gastric phase - This phase takes 3 to 4 hours. It is stimulated by distention of the stomach and alkaline pH. Distention activates long and myentric reflexes. This activates the release of acetylcholine which stimulates the release of more gastric juices. As protein enters the stomach, it binds to hydrogen ions, which raises the pH of the stomach to an alkaline level. This triggers G cells to release gastrin, which in turn stimulates parietal cells to secrete HCl. HCl release is also triggered by acetylcholine and histamine. Intestinal phase - This phase has 2 parts, the excitatory and the inhibitory. Partially-digested food fills the duodenum. This triggers intestinal gastrin to be released. Enterogastric reflex inhibits vagal nuclei, activating sympathetic fibers causing the pyloric sphincter to tighten to prevent more food from entering, and inhibits local reflexes.