Cancerbackup: The stomach
Skip the page content navigation if you do not require links to content sections within this page.
Page Content Navigation
Skip the main banner if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Page Banner
Want to speak to a specialist cancer nurse? Call free on 0808 800 1234
The best cancer information for everyone.
Cancerbackup has merged with Macmillan. Together we can provide a wealth of high quality information about cancer.
Skip the main content if you do not want to read it as the next section.
The stomach is a muscular bag and is part of the digestive system, sometimes called the gastrointestinal tract. The upper part of the stomach is joined to the gullet (oesophagus) and the lower part of the stomach is joined to the beginning of the small bowel (duodenum).
Once food has been swallowed it passes down the gullet and into the stomach where it is mixed with gastric juices. The semi-solid food then passes into the small bowel where it is broken down further and nutrients are absorbed. The gastric juices in the stomach help the bowel to absorb some important substances from our food such as Vitamin B12, iron and calcium.
The position of the stomach
The wall of the stomach has four layers:
- The mucosa – this is the name for the lining of the stomach. It contains glands which produce chemicals (enzymes and acid) that make gastric juices.
- The submucosa – a layer underneath the mucosa.
- The muscularis – a layer of muscle beneath the submucosa.
- The serosa – this is a strong membrane that forms the outer layer of the stomach.
Structure of the stomach wall
As well as being part of the digestive system the stomach is also connected to the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system has two main roles. It helps to protect the body from infection and it drains fluid from the tissues.
All the tissue layers of the stomach are bathed in fluid called lymph. This fluid drains through tiny tubes (lymph vessels) in the stomach layers, which are connected to small bean-like structures (lymph nodes). The lymph nodes filter debris (such as old cells or bacteria) from the fluid before returning it through larger lymph vessels to the main blood circulation.
Lymph nodes and the stomach
Content last reviewed: 01 April 2009
Page last modified: 26 June 2009
Get support Look for other people in the same situation on our What Now? community - read their blogs or talk to them in our chat rooms. Find out about other ways to get support on the main Macmillan website. |
Macmillan Cancer Support is a national charity and we rely on voluntary donations. To donate, please call Supporter Services on 020 7840 4900. Thank you.