Function of Stomach in Digestive System

Table of Contents

The Function of the Stomach in the Digestive System

The Stomach, a muscular sac located in the upper left part of your abdomen, plays a crucial role in the digestive system by helping to break down food for absorption by the body. T

Structure of the Stomach

The Stomach is a muscular sac located in the upper left area of the abdomen. Its structure allows it to hold up to 1.5 litres of food. When you eat a meal, the Stomach muscles relax to allow the food to enter. In the Stomach, the food mixes with the gastric juices, which contain acids and enzymes, making the digestion process easier.

The Stomach performs three main functions in the digestive system –

Food Storage
Breaking down food:
Passage of the food into the Small Intestine

Food Storage

The Stomach acts as a reservoir for food that can hold a considerable amount.
When you eat, the muscles of the Stomach relax, allowing the food to enter.
The muscle walls of the Stomach contract to mix the food with the gastric juices secreted by the gastric glands.
Gastric juices are made up of substances such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) and enzymes.

Breaking down food

Gastric juices play an important role in breaking down food into smaller particles through digestion.
The Hydrochloric acid (HCl) secreted by the parietal cells creates an acidic environment in the Stomach.
The acidic environment activates the enzyme pepsinogen and converts it into pepsin, which breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.
The acidic environment also helps denature proteins, making them more accessible for enzymatic digestion.
The muscle walls of the Stomach contract and relax, causing them to churn and mix.
Peristalsis, the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the Stomach, mechanically breaks down the food and mixes it with the gastric juices.

Also Check – What is the role of Acid in our Stomach?

Passage of the food into the Small Intestine

Once the food is broken down into smaller particles and mixed with the gastric juices, it is gradually emptied into the small intestine.
Stomach secretes Gastric hormones and Intrinsic factor (a protein that helps the intestines absorb vitamin B12)
The pyloric sphincter, a ring-shaped muscle structure between the Stomach and the small intestine, regulates the release of the partially digested food.
The Stomach contracts rhythmically to move the partially digested food (Chyme) towards the pyloric sphincter.
The pyloric sphincter opens at regular intervals to pass small amounts of chyme into the small intestine, starting with the duodenum.
The small intestine is where further digestion and nutrient absorption takes place, as it is the most important place for nutrient absorption in the body.

Also Check – Small Intestine- Structure , Functions and Movement in the Digestive System

Also Check – Digestive Glands – Definition , Types and Functions

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Also Check – Peristalsis- The Rhythmic Journey Through Your Body

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