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.The stomach is a J- shaped muscle. The stomach acts as a churn. Chemical breakdown of food begins in the stomach. The stomach can be sub-divided into many different regions. The cardiac region of the stomach is known to surround the cardioesophageal sphincter. Another region of the stomach is the fundus. The fundus is the expanded area of the stomach, which is lateral to the cardiac region of the stomach. The body of the stomach is the middle lying area. The pylorus is the terminal or ending region of the stomach. The pylorus region of the stomach runs continuously with the small intestine through the pyloric sphincter. There are two sphincters, circular muscles that act as valves that are placed outside organs, surrounding the two openings of the stomach. The stomach’s carrying capacity is about 4 liters (1 gallon) of food. When the stomach is empty, the stomach folds in on itself. When the stomach has folded in on itself, the mucosa of the stomach is folded into folds known as rugae.

The constant churning helps allow digestion in the stomach improve. The walls of the small intestine are lined with millions of small indention's known as the gastric pits. The gastric pits provide a passageway to the gastric glands. The gastric glands are known to be responsible for the secretion of gastric juices. Gastric juice is one of the many acidic chemicals within the confines of the stomach; which are responsible for the churning and break down of food. Yet another one of the fluids which are responsible for the digestion of food within the stomach is hydrochloric acid (HCL). By definition, hydrochloric acid is responsible for aiding in the digestion of proteins. Hydrochloric acid is produced within the parietal cells within the stomach. The walls of the stomach are lined with a type of mucous known as the mucous neck cells. The mucous neck cells are responsible for producing an alkaline mucous, which sticks to the walls of the stomach. The alkaline mucous protects the walls of the stomach from the highly acidic gastric juices as well as the hydrochloric acid which is contained within the stomach. Gastric juice and other acids being mixed with the food, it breaks down and become a creamy substance known as chyme. After being transformed into chyme, food leaves a sphincter to the small intestine.

mouth and teeth  peristalsis  small intestine  nutrients

stomach  waste