Specimen Image
Anatomical Position
The stomach lies within the superior aspect of the abdomen.
It primarily lies in the epigastric and umbilical regions, however, the exact size, shape and position of the stomach can vary from person to person and with position and respiration.
Anatomical Structure
Divisions of the Stomach
The stomach has four main anatomical divisions; the cardia, fundus, body and pylorus:
- Cardia – surrounds the superior opening of the stomach at the T11 level.
- Fundus – the rounded, often gas filled portion superior to and left of the cardia.
- Body – the large central portion inferior to the fundus.
- Pylorus – This area connects the stomach to the duodenum. It is divided into the pyloric antrum, pyloric canal and pyloric sphincter. The pyloric sphincter demarcates the transpyloric plane at the level of L1.