Chapter 3: Digestion – The Stomach

Chapter 3: Digestion – The Stomach

# Cardiac Orifice

The cardiac orifice is the uppermost part of the stomach, lacking a valve. Its location is posterior to the costal cartilage VII, anterior to the body of the tenth thoracic vertebra, and deviated to the left.

# Means of Fixation

The stomach is fixed by the following structures:

• Greater and Lesser Omenta: Connects the stomach to neighboring organs.

• Gastrophrenic Ligament: Connects the stomach to the diaphragm.

• Gastrosplenic Ligament: Connects the stomach to the spleen.

• Gastrocolic Ligament: Connects the stomach to the colon.

# Pylorus

The pylorus is the connection between the stomach and the duodenum. The outer surface of the pylorus has the anterior wall of the pylorus. The pyloric orifice is located to the right of the first lumbar vertebra.

# Relationships

• Anterior Relationship: Liver, diaphragm, anterior abdominal wall

• Posterior Relationship: Diaphragm, tail of the pancreas, left kidney and adrenal gland, transverse mesocolon, duodenojejunal flexure

# Muscular Layer Structure

The stomach has 3 layers of muscles:

• Longitudinal Muscles: Run along the length of the stomach.

• Circular Muscles: Run in a circle around the stomach.

• Oblique Muscles: Run diagonally.

# Blood Vessels

• Celiac Trunk: Branches off at the level of the 12th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae.

• Left Gastric Vessel Bundle: Originates from the celiac trunk and ascends on a fold of peritoneum called the left gastro-pancreatic fold.

• Short Gastric Vein: Drains into the portal vein.

• Right Gastroepiploic Vein: Drains into the superior mesenteric vein.

• Left Gastroepiploic Vein: Drains into the splenic vein.

• Short Gastric Arteries: Originate from the splenic artery and supply the upper part of the greater curvature.

• Fundus and Cardiac Orifice: Supplied by branches of the left gastric artery, fundic artery, splenic artery, and left inferior phrenic artery.

Note: This text is written based on the provided information and focuses on the main points of stomach anatomy. For a more comprehensive understanding of the stomach’s structure and function, consult specialized sources on anatomy and physiology.