What effect the stomach?

The stomach secretes gastric juice, which helps digest food.

Gastric juice is a clear, colorless fluid that is produced by the stomach. It contains hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and mucus. Hydrochloric acid kills bacteria and helps break down proteins. Pepsin is an enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller molecules. Mucus protects the stomach lining from the hydrochloric acid.

Gastric juice is produced in response to the presence of food in the stomach. When food enters the stomach, it stimulates the release of gastrin, a hormone that causes the stomach to produce gastric juice. Gastric juice is also produced in response to the presence of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), a hormone that is produced by the small intestine.

The stomach also churns food, which helps mix it with gastric juice.

The stomach churns food by contracting and relaxing its muscles. This action helps to break down food into smaller pieces and mix it with gastric juice. Churning also helps to move food through the stomach and into the small intestine.

The stomach empties its contents into the small intestine.

The stomach empties its contents into the small intestine through a process called peristalsis. Peristalsis is a series of involuntary muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract. Peristalsis is triggered by the presence of food in the stomach.

The stomach takes several hours to empty its contents into the small intestine. The time it takes for the stomach to empty depends on the type of food that is consumed. Fatty foods take longer to digest than carbohydrates or proteins.

The stomach plays a vital role in the digestive process.

It secretes gastric juice, churns food, and empties its contents into the small intestine. These processes help to break down food and prepare it for absorption in the small intestine.