What is the main purpose of stomach?

Main Purpose of Stomach

- The main purpose of the stomach is to digest food. It is a J-shaped muscular organ that is located in the upper left portion of the abdomen. The stomach receives food from the esophagus and breaks it down into a form that can be absorbed by the small intestine.

Process of Digestion in Stomach

- When food enters the stomach, it is mixed with gastric juices. Gastric juices are produced by the stomach lining and contain hydrochloric acid and enzymes such as pepsin. The hydrochloric acid kills most bacteria that enter the stomach. Pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.

- The food and gastric juices are then churned by the stomach muscles. This churning helps to break down the food into even smaller pieces.

- Once the food has been sufficiently broken down, it is passed to the small intestine through the pyloric valve. The pyloric valve is a muscle that controls the flow of food out of the stomach.

Other Functions of Stomach

- The storage of food.

- Production of acid and enzymes that aid in digestion.

- The secretion of a hormone called gastrin, which helps to regulate digestion.