System: Digestive
Location: Between a muscular tube called the oesophagus and the small intestine
Physical description: A J-shaped elastic sac which is the widest part of your digestive system
Function: Storing food, breaking food down and mixing it with juices secreted by your stomach lining Food store Your stomach is a short-term food-storage facility. This allows you to consume a large meal quickly and then digest it over an extended period of time. When full, your stomach can hold around one litre of chewed up food. Swallowed food is propelled down your oesophagus into your stomach. Food is enclosed in your stomach by two circular muscles, known as sphincters. Chemical breakdown As soon as food enters your stomach, your stomach lining releases enzymes that start breaking down proteins in the food. Your stomach lining also secretes hydrochloric acid, which creates the ideal conditions for the protein-digesting enzymes to work. The potent hydrochloric acid kills bacteria, protecting your body from harmful microbes which can enter your body in food. Your stomach protects itself from being digested by its own enzymes, or burnt by the corrosive hydrochloric acid, by secreting sticky, neutralising mucus that clings to the stomach walls. If this layer becomes damaged in any way it can result in painful and unpleasant stomach ulcers. Physical breakdown Waves of muscular contraction along your stomach wall, known as peristalsis, break food down into smaller pieces, mix it with fluids secreted from your stomach lining and move it through your stomach. This creates a mixture that resembles thick cream. Release of food into small intestine When food has been broken down sufficiently, small amounts are squirted out of your stomach into your small intestine for further processing. This normally occurs within four hours of eating a meal, but can take six or more hours if your meal has a high fat content. Back to top
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