Pyloric sphincter

Definition

The pyloric sphincter is a muscular valve that controls the passage of partially digested food from the stomach to the small intestine. It acts as a gatekeeper, opening to allow the contents to move on for further digestion and absorption.

Related terms

Gastric Emptying:

The process through which food exits the stomach and enters the duodenum through the action of the pyloric sphincter.

Stomach:

A muscular organ involved in mechanical digestion and chemical digestion of food before it passes through the pyloric sphincter into the small intestine.

Small Intestine:

The part of the gastrointestinal tract where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients takes place, receiving partially digested food from the stomach via the pyloric sphincter