External structure: surfaces and curvatures
Anatomically, the stomach has two main surfaces that transition into one another along the margins of the organ:
- anterior surface — paries anterior;
- posterior surface — paries posterior.
The borders of the stomach form characteristic arcs:
- lesser curvature — curvatura minor (it features an important anatomical landmark — angular notch, incisura angularis);
- greater curvature — curvatura major.
Parts and orifices of the stomach
Several functional and anatomical zones that smoothly transition into one another are distinguished in the stomach. The main parts include:
- Cardia (pars cardiaca) — the initial segment.
- Fundus, or fornix (fundus / fornix gastricus) — the dome-shaped upper part.
- Body (corpus gastricum) — the largest middle segment.
- Pyloric part (pars pylorica) — the terminal segment, which in turn is subdivided into the antrum (antrum pyloricum) and the canal (canalis pyloricus).
Food enters and leaves the stomach through two orifices. At the entrance is the cardiac orifice (ostium cardiacum). At the exit lies the pyloric orifice (ostium pyloricum), equipped with a powerful muscular sphincter — the pyloric sphincter (m. sphincter pyloricus).
Layers of the gastric wall
The organ wall has a complex structure and includes three coats:
1. Mucous membrane (tunica mucosa) It is about 1.5–2 mm thick. It forms numerous gastric folds (plicae gastricae). On its surface, gastric areas (areae gastricae) and microscopic depressions — gastric pits (foveolae gastricae) — are visible. The ducts of the gastric glands (glandulae gastricae) open precisely into these pits.
2. Muscular layer (tunica muscularis) Ensures the organ's motility and, unlike many other parts of the GI tract, consists not of two, but of three layers of smooth muscle:
- outer longitudinal layer;
- middle circular layer;
- inner oblique layer (fibrae obliquae).
3. Serous coat (tunica serosa) It is the visceral layer of the peritoneum. It covers the stomach on all sides, which determines its intraperitoneal position in the abdominal cavity.
Gastric glands
The secretory apparatus of the mucous membrane is represented by several types of glands, the localization of which depends on the region:
- proper gastric glands (glandulae gastricae propriae) — located predominantly in the body and fundus;
- cardiac glands (glandulae cardiacae) — located in the cardiac part;
- pyloric glands (glandulae pyloricae) — localized in the pyloric region.
Blood supply and innervation
The stomach has a rich blood supply and dual autonomic innervation.
Arteries: Blood flow is provided by the left and right gastric arteries (a. gastrica sinistra et dextra), gastroepiploic arteries (aa. gastroepiploicae), and short gastric arteries (aa. gastricae breves).
Venous and lymphatic drainage: The veins of the stomach collect blood and drain into the portal vein system (v. portae). Lymph drains into regional nodes: gastric (nodi lymphoidei gastrici), gastroepiploic (gastroepiploici), and celiac (coeliaci).
Innervation:
- Parasympathetic — carried out by the vagus nerve (n. vagus).
- Sympathetic — provided by branches of the celiac plexus (plexus coeliacus).
Briefly: answers to topical questions
Which arteries supply blood to the stomach?
The blood supply to the stomach is provided by the following arteries:
- Left and right gastric arteries (a. gastrica sinistra et dextra);
- Gastroepiploic arteries (aa. gastroepiploicae), including the left gastroepiploic artery running along the greater curvature;
- Short gastric arteries (aa. gastricae breves) — 3–7 small branches heading toward the gastric fundus.
Which ligaments fix the stomach in the abdominal cavity?
The following ligaments are associated with the stomach:
- Gastrosplenic ligament (lig. gastrosplenicum), through which the short gastric arteries pass; the tail of the pancreas also lies between its layers;
- Gastrocolic ligament;
- Phrenicoesophageal ligament (lig. phrenicoesophageum).
Which organs are in contact with the posterior surface of the stomach?
The posterior surface of the stomach is in contact with the pancreas. The pancreas is located retroperitoneally in the upper floor of the abdominal cavity, directly posterior to the stomach. At the same time, the upper part of the pancreatic head projects into the cavity of the omental bursa (bursa omentalis) and abuts the posterior surface of the stomach through the peritoneum.
Which anatomical structures are located on the lesser curvature of the stomach?
The following anatomical structures are located on the lesser curvature of the stomach:
- Angular notch (incisura angularis) — the angle formed on the lesser curvature up to which the body of the stomach extends;
- Left and right gastric lymph nodes (nodi lymphoidei gastrici sinistri et dextri) — first-tier lymph nodes that lie in the region of the lesser curvature along the course of the left and right gastric arteries.
To remember the layers of the muscular wall, use the mnemonic: Longitudinal (outer), Circular (middle), Oblique (inner).
Class and exam questions
What is the relationship of the stomach to the peritoneum?
The stomach is covered by the peritoneum on all sides, meaning it is located intraperitoneally.
How does the muscular coat of the stomach differ from most parts of the GI tract?
By the presence of an additional third (inner oblique) layer of muscle fibers, in addition to the standard longitudinal and circular layers.
Where does venous blood drainage from the stomach occur?
All venous blood from the stomach drains into the portal vein system (v. portae).
What else to study on this topic
- Topography of the stomach: skeletotopy and syntopy
- Anastomoses between gastric arteries
- Histological structure of proper gastric glands
- Lymph outflow pathways from different parts of the stomach
- Structure of the pyloric sphincter and its role in digestion
Study the complete topic in the Anatomy course
This is a summary. The course covers everything tested in classes and exams.
- Complete study guide on the topic "Stomach" and 1,363 more pages of the subject
- Assignments and quizzes after every topic — just like in a colloquium
- AI tutor answers questions on the topic anytime
- 295 video lessons by subject
Other topics in "Splanchnology / Digestive System"
Free video lessons: AnatomyShort lessons with study notes — no registration required.
Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.