The stomach is located below the diaphragm, above the esophagus and below the small intestine.

The stomach is divided into four parts, the cardia, the fundus, the body, and the pylorus. The functions of the stomach are to absorb food, harmonize food, and secrete gastric juice; as well as having endocrine functions, producing some hormones to promote gastrointestinal activities. The average adult stomach can hold 12 pounds of food. When the food eaten reaches the stomach, the stomach will secrete a large amount of gastric acid to corrode and dissolve the food and prepare it for absorption into the duodenum.

The stomach empties foods differently. For vegetables and fruits, it usually empties once in 3 hours; for white meats, such as fish and chicken, it empties roughly once in 3.5 hours; for mixed foods, it empties once in 4.5 hours; and for red meats, however, it takes longer to empty once.

Expanded information:

Blood supply to the stomach. p>Blood supply to the stomach: mainly from three major branches of the celiac artery: the left gastric artery, the common hepatic artery, and the splenic artery.

1, the left gastric artery: straight from the celiac artery, may have branches: cardia branch, esophageal branch, gastric branch. ①para-hepatic left; ②para-gastric left; ③gastric left and hepatic intrinsic direct anastomosis.

2. Right gastric artery: originates from the hepatic innominate artery.

3. Right gastric omental artery: from gastroduodenum.

4, Left gastric omental artery: from the main trunk and branches of the splenic artery.

5. Short gastric artery: from the main trunk and branches of the splenic artery.

6. Posterior gastric artery: from the upper edge of the middle 1/3 of the trunk of the splenic artery.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Stomach

Baidu Encyclopedia - Gastrointestinal