Stomach

Definition

The stomach is a hollow organ in the digestive system that breaks down food using stomach acid and enzymes. It serves as a storage tank for food as it begins the process of digestion before passing into the small intestine.

Related terms

Gastric acid: A digestive fluid, produced by the stomach, that contains hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes, critical for breaking down proteins and killing potential harmful bacteria ingested with food.

Pepsin:

An enzyme in the stomach that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides, essential for protein digestion.

Chyme:

The semi-liquid mass of partly digested food that is expelled by the stomach into the duodenum at the beginning of the small intestine