Stomach
The stomach is a portion of the digestive system responsible for
breaking down food. The lower esophageal sphincter at the top of
the stomach regulates food passing from the esophagus into the
stomach, and prevents the contents of the stomach from reentering
the esophagus. The pyloric sphincter at the bottom of the stomach
governs the passage of food out of the stomach into the small
intestine.
Review Date: 9/4/2008
Reviewed By: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal
Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist,
Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell
Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also
reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
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