What is the stomach?
The capacity of the stomach varies greatly: in an adult it averages 2.5 liters, in a newborn 20 to 30 cubic centimeters. The size adapts to lifestyle and eating habits: People who always eat small meals generally have smaller stomachs than people who regularly consume large portions.
How long does food stay in the stomach?
What is the function of the stomach?
The stomach mixes the ingested food with gastric juice to form a well-mixed pulp. The gastric juice contains several important components:
- Digestive enzymes: pepsinogen and pepsin, respectively, for protein digestion and lipases for fat digestion.
- Hydrochloric acid: Converts the inactive precursor pepsinogen into the active pepsin, provides the acidic environment that pepsin needs for its work, and kills bacteria.
- Intrinsic factor: protein that is then required in the intestine for the absorption of vitamin B12 into the blood.
Where is the stomach?
What problems can cause the stomach?
Heartburn occurs when aggressive acid from the stomach rises up into the esophagus and irritates the mucous membrane here (reflux disease).
