The fundus ventriculi refers to a curved part of the stomach in the form of a dome. This is located on the left side next to the cardia, the entrance to the stomach. The fundus ventriculi is responsible for collecting swallowed air. It is produced during the ingestion of food. When the patient is standing, this air can be easily seen on the X-ray in the form of a bubble. The so-called fundus glands are located in the mucosa of the corresponding gastric area.
What is fundus ventriculi?
The corpus ventriculi is also known as the body of the stomach in common parlance. This represents the main part of the human stomach. Located on the left side in the region of the upper abdomen. Basically, the stomach is divided into different sections. The so-called stomach body is responsible for the storage of food, it carries out the comminution and makes ingested germs and pathogens harmless. Furthermore, this process is supported by gastric acid.
Anatomy and structure
The stomach is an outpouching of the human digestive tract, which is located in the middle of the esophagus and intestines. It is responsible for storing food and mixing it. This hollow organ is very muscular and produces the so-called gastric acid as well as many other enzyme-like substances, which have the task of digesting food components in advance. They are broken down and split here. The food is then passed piece by piece into the small intestine. The fundus ventriculi is located on the left side in the middle abdominal region. It is located directly under the diaphragm. The size, shape and location of this section of the stomach varies from person to person and depends on age, stomach contents as well as body position. When the stomach is medium full, its capacity is about two to three liters with a length of about 30 centimeters. The main component is the fundus ventriculi, the so-called body of the stomach. Here there are longitudinal folds in the mucosa, which extend from the entrance to the stomach into the pylorus. These folds are also called the gastric track.
Function and tasks
The greatest task of the fundus ventriculi is the absorption of food, which is processed with the help of gastric acid into a mixed pulp from the various foods. This is temporarily stored for about three hours. It is then passed in doses to the small intestine. Here it then undergoes further digestion. All nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins and vitamins are finally absorbed into the body via the intestinal mucosa. At the upper right end of the stomach is the so-called stomach mouth, which creates the passage from the esophagus to the stomach. This is often incorrectly referred to as the esophageal sphincter, although it is not a conventional sphincter. Opening and closing is achieved here by means of a constricting diaphragmatic loop. In the posterior region of the fundus ventriculi, there is a small bulge that points upward. This bulge is called the fundus, or base of the stomach. It is partially located at the diaphragm and represents the upper wall of the stomach with which it terminates. In the upright position, the air ingested with food is collected. It is normally clearly visible on X-ray and is also known as the gastric bubble. Below the stomach corpus lies the so-called gatekeeper. This is divided into three areas. These are the antrum, which marks the entrance area and is located at the top, and the pylorus. Finally, the duodenum, the entrance to the duodenum, is located here. The ingested and predigested food takes its passage through this section and finally enters the intestine. The gatekeeper is responsible for separating the stomach from the duodenum and causes the food pulp to be released into the intestine in portions. If this mash reaches the antrum again, a nerve stimulus is triggered that affects the so-called vagus nerve. This triggers a muscle contraction and thus causes the otherwise closed portal to open. In this way, the food pulp can continue its journey into the intestine without obstacles.
Diseases
The fundus ventriculi can basically be affected by various diseases and conditions.Often, these are merely mild digestive disorders, such as pressure in the stomach, heartburn, or complaints resulting from infections. A possible cause is also inflammation of the gastric mucosa or ulcers, which can also occur as a result of such untreated inflammation. In most cases, the cause is an unhealthy lifestyle, which is associated with a non-regular and incorrect diet. Stress also plays a serious role. Likewise, taking various medications can cause discomfort in the fundus ventriculi. Often, the numerous symptoms can already be combated by a change of life and diet. If this is recognized in time, serious chronic diseases such as cancer or bleeding can be counteracted. In this context, possible alcohol consumption also plays a decisive role. In principle, any complaints of the stomach, including the fundus ventriculi, require medical treatment if they persist over a long period of time, because the stomach function can be significantly damaged. The physician will thoroughly examine each area of the stomach by means of a specular examination, gastroscopy, in order to determine the causes of the fundus ventriculi complaints. In this way, they can be detected in time and usually treated well with medication.