Visible Human, Coronal Section/Anterior Thorax

You selected: stomach

The stomach has three layers of smooth muscle which mechanically grind ingested food as hydrochloric acid (HCl) and enzymes such as pepsin break complex carbohydrates (sugars), fats and proteins into their componenets. Note the convoluted interior surface of the stomach. These ridges are reffered to as rugae.

An epithlielium lines the interior of the stomach (gastric epithelium). This epithelium contains many cell types, and is organized into units called gastric pits. Parietal cells secrete HCl while neck and surface mucus cells secrete mucus to protect the stomach from its own acid. Chief cells, located at the bottom of the gastric pits, secrete enzymes important in the breakdown of foodstuffs.

Key points in this image
lung | left ventricle | right ventricle | diaphragm | stomach | liver | pectoralis major |
Click on the image to learn more about specific features. Alternatively you may view this image with all annotations, or with the introductory comments.

Return to your starting page.

Information
Module Name: a_vmY1649
Module Title: Visible Human, Coronal Section/Anterior Thorax
Image Info: Computer generated from gross transverse sections.
Created by: Lynn Bry
Contact Email:bryl@medicine.wustl.edu
Last modified: Feb 7th, 1997
Created with Annotation 1.0