Q:
What Is the Main Function of the Stomach?
A:
Quick Answer
The main function of the stomach is to chemically and mechanically break down food. It accomplishes this by secreting stomach acid and enzymes to digest food and churning the food by the periodic contraction of the stomach muscles.
Continue Reading
Credit:
Peter Macdiarmid
Getty Images News
Getty Images
Full Answer
When food enters the mouth it is swallowed and enters the esophagus. Food travels down the esophagus and enters the stomach through a muscular valve known as the lower esophageal sphincter. It is broken down by stomach acid and churned into a substance known as chyme. Then, the food travels through the pyloric sphincter and passes into the small intestine where it can be further digested.
Learn more about Human AnatomyRelated Questions
-
Q:
How Is the Trachea Different From the Esophagus?
A: The trachea is a respiratory pathway that funnels air towards the lungs, while the esophagus is a digestive organ that carries food to the stomach, accordi... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How Big Is Your Stomach?
A: According to InnerBody, the actual size of the stomach varies from person to person, but on average it's big enough to contain around 1 to 2 liters of liqu... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Food Tube Carries Food Between the Pharynx and the Stomach?
A: The esophagus is the muscular tube in humans and most other vertebrate organisms that carries food from the pharynx, or throat, down to the stomach. It is ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How Long Does It Take to Digest Liquids?
A: On average, food takes six to eight hours to pass through the stomach and small intestines. Liquids are not digested separately from foods, and they follow... Full Answer >Filed Under:
You May Also Like
-
Q:
What Could Cause a Burning Sensation in Your Stomach While You Are Pregnant?
-
Q:
Where Are the Lungs Located in the Human Body?
-
Q:
Why Would Your Hands Always Be Cold?
-
Q:
What Are Some Ways to Flatten Your Stomach in a Week?
-
Q:
How Do I Make My Mustache Thicker?
-
Q:
Is the Hypodermis a Layer of Skin?
