Answer
The stomach stores food, initiates the digestion of protein, and controls the movement of food into the small intestine.
The stomach has the same four layers as the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, but two layers are modified. The muscularis contains three layers of smooth muscle rather than the usual two. One layer is circular, one longitudinal, and one runs obliquely to the other two.
The mucosa of the stomach has deep folds called rugae. These folds disappear as the stomach fills. The mucosa of the stomach also contains millions of gastric pits which lead to the gastric glands. Gastric glands produce gastric juice which contains pepsin, an enzyme which digests protein, hydrochloric acid, and mucus.
Work Step by Step
The stomach stores food, initiates the digestion of protein, and controls the movement of food into the small intestine.
The stomach has the same four layers as the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, but two layers are modified. The muscularis contains three layers of smooth muscle rather than the usual two. One layer is circular, one longitudinal, and one runs obliquely to the other two.
The mucosa of the stomach has deep folds called rugae. These folds disappear as the stomach fills. The mucosa of the stomach also contains millions of gastric pits which lead to the gastric glands. Gastric glands produce gastric juice which contains pepsin, an enzyme which digests protein, hydrochloric acid, and mucus.
