Stomach

Looks like

A muscular J-shaped bag holding about 1.5 litres, lined by cells that make acid and mucus.

What it does

Stores a meal, kills germs with acid and churns food into a paste.

Keeping it well

Smaller meals, less alcohol and smoking; treat Helicobacter, and see a doctor if swallowing is hard or weight is falling.

Its parts

• Cardia
• Fundus
• Body of stomach
• Antrum
• Pylorus
• Gastric mucosa

Related conditions

• Acid reflux (GERD)
• B12 & folate deficiency
• Barrett's oesophagus
• Crohn's disease
• Eating disorders
• Food poisoning
• Functional dyspepsia (indigestion)
• Gastritis
• Gastroenteritis
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Gastroparesis
• Hyperemesis gravidarum
• Intussusception & pyloric stenosis
• Mallory–Weiss tear
• Motion sickness
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Stomach cancer