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The Stomach

The stomach is a muscular organ located on the left side of the upper abdomen. The stomach receives food from the esophagus. As food reaches the end of the esophagus, it enters the stomach through a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter. The stomach secretes acid and enzymes that digest food. The stomach is a hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The stomach is a j-shaped organ. It is about the size of a grapefruit. The stomach stretches when it is full of food. It also has an exit and an entrance. It may be surprising to learn a person can live without a stomach. But the body is able to bypass the stomach's main function of storing and breaking down food to gradually pass to the intestines. Absent a stomach, food consumed in small quantities can move directly from the esophagus to the small intestine.

The signs and symptoms of stomach cancer can include: Poor appetite. Weight loss (without trying) Abdominal (belly) pain, Vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the navel, A sense of fullness in the upper abdomen after eating a small meal, Heartburn or indigestion, Nausea, Vomiting, with or without blood. Gastric polyps are abnormal growths on the inner lining of your stomach. Most are harmless and don't cause symptoms. ... Most gastric polyps come from an abnormal growth of cells in a section of the epithelium. Gastric polyps are not cancerous. But some may turn into cancer. In the early stages, stomach cancers often do not cause any symptoms. Signs of stomach cancer include: a painful or burning sensation in the abdomen. heartburn or indigestion (dyspepsia).

The abdomen contains all the digestive organs, including the stomach, small and large intestines, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. These organs are held together loosely by connecting tissues (mesentery) that allow them to expand and to slide against each other. The abdomen also contains the kidneys and spleen. There are four main regions in the stomach: the cardia, fundus, body, and pylorus (Figure 1). The cardia (or cardiac region) is the point where the esophagus connects to the stomach and through which food passes into the stomach.