stomach

Stomach

The stomach is a large chamber that receives liquids, solids, and semisolid foods from the esophagus. The stomach has four parts: cardia, fundus, body (also known as corpus gastricum), and antrum (also known as the pylorus). It digests the food received from the esophagus and passes the partially digested food, known as chyme, into the duodenum (upper part of the small intestine).

Common conditions of the stomach include gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, Gastritis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the stomach. A common cause of gastritis is a bacterium named helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori. These bacteria live in the lining of the stomach. This infection can lead to ulcers and even cancer. Long-term use of NSAIDs also causes gastritis and ulcers. Long-term alcohol use is another common cause of gastritis. Peptic ulcer disease is a sore or opening in the inner lining of the stomach or duodenum. Ulcers develop when the intestine's or stomach's protective layer is broken down. When this happens, digestive juices can damage the intestine or stomach tissue. These digestive juices can also damage the esophagus. The two most common causes of peptic ulcers are H. pylori infections and the prolonged use of NSAIDs. Peptic ulcers may also be referred to as gastric or stomach ulcers.

Small Intestines

The small intestine is a coiled, muscular tube that occupies the central and lower abdomen. The small intestine is divided into the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The duodenum is the first portion of the small intestine and is connected to the stomach. It is about 10 inches long. Small ducts from the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder open into the duodenum via the hepatopancreatic ampulla (ampulla of Vater). The jejunum, the middle third of the small intestine, is about 7½ feet long.

Vigorous, peristaltic waves move the fluid contents to the ileum. The ileum, which is approximately 12 feet long, is the last and longest section of the small intestine. Most of the absorption of food takes place in the ileum. The ileum connects to the large intestine.

Large Intestines

The large intestine is about 5 feet long and averages 2.5 inches in diameter. Water is reabsorbed as the food material travels through the large intestine and eventually is eliminated from the body. Unabsorbed food material is stored in the large intestine. It begins just after the ileocecal valve at the cecum, with the appendix attached at the bottom. There are four portions to the colon: ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid or pelvic colon.

The ascending colon proceeds from the ileocecal valve upward to the hepatic flexure on the right side of the abdomen. It becomes the transverse colon and turns