Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Stomach - Facts, Functions & Diseases - Live Sciencehi
Stomach - Facts, Functions & Diseases - Live Sciencehi
Subscribe
TRENDING Coronavirus News Forum Life's Little Mysteries Magazine Deals Live Science newsletters
Live Science is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
The stomach can hold a bit more than a quart (1 liter) of food at once.
(Image credit: Sebastian Kaulitzki | Dreamstimeephanie Pappas)
After swallowing, food and drink make its way down the esophagus to the stomach. The stomach is the first stop in the digestive tract
before food moves on to the small intestine.
Function
The stomach is a bean-shaped sack located behind the lower ribs. Once food hits the stomach, sphincters at the opening of the stomach
and the exit into the small intestine close. The lining of the stomach then secretes hydrochloric acids and enzymes that break down the
food so that it can continue on its journey through the digestive system, according to the Cleveland Clinic. As it secretes acid and enzymes,
the stomach muscles contract in a process called peristalsis to mix the food with the acid and enzymes.
The acid also works to kill harmful microbes that may have made their way into the body along with food and drink. The acid could
damage the stomach, so it secretes a sticky, neutralizing mucus that coats its walls and protects it from damage. The stomach also makes a
substance that is necessary for the body to absorb vitamin B12, according to the Digestive Disease Center (DDC).
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 1/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
The stomach is the widest part of the digestive system. It not only digests food, it also stores it. According to the BBC, the stomach can hold
Subscribe
a bit more than a quart (1 liter) of food at once. The design of the stomach allows a person to eat a large meal that can be digested slowly
over time. It can take four to six hours or longer to digest a meal, according to the BBC. The higher the fat content of the food, the longer it
takes for the food to digest.
04/03/15 27/10/14
video playing
Zombie... Watching...
One of the most common stomach problems is upset stomach or dyspepsia. “Dyspepsia is a term used to describe one or more
symptoms, including a feeling of fullness during a meal, uncomfortable fullness after a meal, and burning or pain in the upper abdomen,”
Dr. Lisa Ganjhu, clinical assistant professor of medicine and gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, told Live Science.
Upper abdominal pain, indigestion and heartburn affects around 25 percent of the population each year, according to the DDC. Treatment
of upset stomach usually depends on the cause. The cause can be as benign as food intolerance or gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD), or as serious as an ulcer or cancer.
GERD happens when acid contents in the stomach get refluxed up into the esophagus. Spicy foods, mint, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol or
citrus foods increase inflammation or acidity in the stomach, which can trigger reflux. Foods that take longer to digest, like fatty foods, can
make GERD symptoms worse. Stress and anxiety can also contribute to GERD, said Ganjhu.
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 2/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Ad
Subscribe
professional
Commercial
Strength Machine
Sports Training
Body Building
Multi Function
Jemy...
Rs. 126,100 Model
NO.:TS100,Appliance:Community, Park,
Gymnasium, Home,
Hospital,Material:Steel,Product...
Made-in-China.com
Stomach ulcers are breaks in the lining of the stomach, causedVisit Site
by certain medications and too much acid in the stomach. These breaks are
exposed to the acids in the stomach, causing pain. In most cases, ulcers can easily be treated with medication.
Stomach cancer is cancer that originates in the stomach. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), it mostly affects older
people. Two-thirds of the people affected with stomach cancer are over age 65. In its advanced stages, some symptoms of stomach cancer
are unexplained weight loss, vomiting, blood in the stool, jaundice or trouble swallowing. Around 10,720 people die from stomach cancer
each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Stomach flu isn’t a flu at all. It is a stomach virus. Flus affect the respiratory system, not the digestive tract. According the Mayo Clinic, some
common symptoms are watery, usually non-bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, nausea, muscle aches, headache and low-grade
fever.
Additional resources
DDC: Ulcers
American Cancer Society: Stomach Cancer
NLM: Stomach Disorders
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 3/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
SEE MORE LATEST
Subscribe
Interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua came from an 'alien Pluto,' new study suggests
Back in 2017, a point of strange light flashed through the solar system. Three years later, a new team of scientists claims to have figured out what
it was.
Livescience
Play this Game for 1 Minute and see why everyone is addicted. No Install.
DeltaWars | Sponsored
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 4/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Subscribe
MOST POPULAR
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 5/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Subscribe
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 6/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Subscribe
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 7/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Subscribe
Sunken cities: Discover real-life 'Atlantis' settlements hidden beneath the waves
By Nikole Robinson, How It Works magazine 20 days ago
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 8/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Subscribe
Advertisement
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 9/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Subscribe
SIGN ME UP
Advertisement
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 10/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Subscribe
3 'Giant arc' stretching 3.3 billion light-years across the cosmos shouldn't exist
4 Ancient giant rhino was one of the largest mammals ever to walk Earth
● ● ●
How It Works Magazine
From US$7.15
VIEW DEAL
Advertisement
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 11/12
21/06/2021 Stomach: Facts, Functions & Diseases | Live Science
Subscribe
Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
About Us
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Accessibility Statement
Topics
Advertise with us
Web notifications
©
Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor,
New York,
NY 10036.
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html 12/12