ancient greek: Stomachos
Greek: Guest
Latin: Ventriculus
English: stomache
From a formal point of view, the stomach is a bulge in the digestive tract that lies between the esophagus and the intestine and has the task of storing and mixing food. This hollow muscular organ forms gastric acid (HCL) and enzymes that pre-digest (chemically break down / break down) certain components of the food in order to then pass the chyme on to the small intestine in portions.
Read more about the topic here: Tasks of the stomach
The stomach is usually located in the left and middle upper abdomen directly below the diaphragm. The position, size and shape of the stomach varies greatly from person to person and depending on age, filling level and body position. If the stomach is moderately full, it is on average 25-30 cm long and has a storage capacity of 1.5 and in extreme cases even up to 2.5 liters.
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The stomach is covered by ligaments that, among other things, are too liver and spleen pull, fastened in the abdominal cavity and thus stabilized. The stomach is curved like a fishing hook in the abdominal cavity, and with its convex side forms the great curvature of the stomach (large gastric curvature / curvartura major) and with the concave side the small curvature of the stomach (lesser gastric curvature / curvatura minor).
The stomach can be divided into different sections:
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The stomach wall shows a characteristic layer structure under the microscope.
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You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
The gastric glands (Glandulae gastricae) lie in the lamina propria mucosae and can be found in the fundus and the body of the stomach. Up to 100 glands are located on 1mm2 of the surface of the mucous membrane. There are various cells in the wall of the glandular tube:
The stomach serves as a reservoir for the food ingested. It can store food for hours and thus ensures that we can cover our daily nutritional needs with just a few larger meals. The peristalsis causes the chyme (Chyme) mixed with gastric juice, the food chemically crushed, partially digested and then in portions into the Duodenum (duodenum) forwarded.
$config[ads_text4] not foundRead more about the topic here: Tasks of the stomach
The Gastric juice / gastric acid contains acid (HCL), Mucus, electrolytes, intinsic factor and some enzymes, mainly pepsin.
The hydrochloric acid kills the bacteria ingested with food and thus protects against infections.
Pepsin is an enzyme that breaks down proteins. Interestingly, both hydrochloric acid and pepsin are of subordinate importance for digestion, which is also shown by the fact that the digestive function is still largely preserved after surgical removal of the stomach. The Intrinsic factor however, it turns out to be very important as the absence of this substance can cause serious problems Anemia (Anemia) can occur.
Since the enzymes for the Fat digestion (Lipases) and Carbohydrate digestion (amylases) are only produced in very small quantities in the stomach, these food components are hardly digested at all in the stomach, but only in the intestine.
The gastric mucosa produces 2-3 liters of gastric juice a day. Compared to the fasting state, gastric juice release (gastric juice secretion) can increase by a factor of 100 when ingested food.
There are different stages of digestion in which nerve signals and different ones Hormones and mediators play a role:
Head phase / cephalic (vagal) phase:
Some food signals (smell, taste, appearance) cause via the parasympathetic vagus nerve (Vagus nerve), a gastrin release from the G-cells and thus an increase in gastric juice production even before eating.
Gastric phase / gastric phase:
Here, the stretching stimulus due to the ingestion of food is the one that reflexively increases gastric juice production via the vagus nerve. Some chemical stimuli such as protein breakdown products, alcohol and coffee cause an increased release of gastrin and histamine, which in turn increases gastric juice production.
Intestinal phase / intestinal phase:
The most important function here is to inhibit gastric juice production. If strongly acidic chyme passes into the duodenum, there is a risk of damaging the intestinal mucosa. This stimulus causes the secretin hormone to be released, which inhibits gastrin production. A decrease in gastrin in turn leads to a reduction in gastric acid production.
For more information, see: Stomach acid
The gastroenteritiswhich colloquial Abdominal influenza or Vomiting diarrhea is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract and also literally means gastrointestinal inflammation. The typical symptoms of gastrointestinal flu are Vomit and diarrhea. You shouldn't have the "real flu" (Influenza) confound. Gastroenteritis is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in children and adults. It used to be fatal in children because too much fluid was lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Today the number of deaths is limited from 2.5 million annually to around 2000.
A Abdominal influenza can be triggered by pathogenic (disease-causing) pathogens, including various Viruses (see below), bacteria and Protozoa belong.
The most common bacterial pathogen are Salmonella, Yersinia, Shigella, Campylobacter, Vibrio cholerae and Clostridium difficile.
The Protozoa (Protozoa) that can trigger gastrointestinal flu are, for example. Amoeba.
The mechanism underlying the various pathogens differs, but usually one results Damage to the lining of the stomach. As a result, the food can no longer be digested well and it becomes liquid Diarrhea and vomiting. Some bacteria also produce toxins (Toxins) which lead to an increased Loss of water and salt to lead. Toxins can also accumulate in spoiled foods, and so become a classic when they are consumed Food poisoning to lead.
Furthermore, the cause of gastrointestinal flu can be of a physical nature. So can ionizing radiation, for example in the context of cancer therapy, lead to damage to the gastric mucosa.
The Abdominal influenza is in most cases by means of a fecal-oral Smear infection transfer.
That means that at not adequately cleaned hands infectious patients who can transmit pathogens to food or humans. Ultimately, the contaminated food is then consumed.
Other pathogens such as salmonella accumulate in foods that are not sufficiently heated, such as meat products. Only the noroviruses are so infectious that one Droplet infection is possible. When vomiting, the finest infectious droplets get into the air and can then infect relatives or hospital staff.
Until Appearance of the first symptoms can from the onset of infection up to 2 days pass away.
Then the gastrointestinal flu manifests itself through Loss of appetite, nausea, Vomit as diarrhea. The diarrhea can be bloody.
Stomach discomfort and pain can occur. In addition, it comes to the general exhaustion and dizziness. In the case of inadequate hydration, symptoms of dehydration occur as a lot of fluid is lost through vomiting and diarrhea.
Usually is about clinical anamnese no further microbiological diagnostics necessary. In the case of severe or special disease processes, you can Stool and blood samples Provide information about the type of pathogen in order to be able to clarify further therapeutic measures.
Therapy takes place symptom-oriented.
First of all, it is important to those affected to protect against dehydration. To do this, they are given a solution with a mixture of glucose and salt (WHO rehydration solution) required. This can be so-called Probiotics be expanded. These are bacterial strains that are part of the natural intestinal flora and can thus support the natural functioning of the intestines. The solution can also be used for children and people for whom rehydration is not so successful as an infusion administered.
Can accompany Medication help, that stop vomiting (Antiemetics) or that Lower fever. Antibiotics are usually not prescribed.
Incidentally, at the beginning of the disease should only easily digestible carbohydrates are eaten (e.g. bananas, rusks and white bread) to protect the stomach and intestines.
In Germany there is one for some pathogens causing gastrointestinal infections Reporting requirement.
These include Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, Norovirus, Rotavirus and EHEC.
For more information, see: Abdominal influenza
There is no such thing as a gastrointestinal virus. Rather, it is a few different viruses that do one gastroenteritis (Gastrointestinal flu). In the following you will find an overview and brief description of the respective viruses.
The Rota virus is a so-called RNA virus, which is the most common pathogen childhood gastrointestinal flu is. It is also an important nosocomial (hospital infection) pathogen on pediatric wards in clinics.
The Rota virus is over Smear infections (fecal-oral) transmitted and can be detected in the stool.
There is a Oral vaccination with a weakened (attenuated) live vaccine, which is recommended from the 6th week of life. The last dose should be given before the age of 26 weeks.
Without that vaccination Almost every child develops rotaviruses up to the age of five.
A There is therapy currently Not. But it should be on a adequate water supply be respected. The usual Duration of illness amounts 6-8 days.
There is a statutory requirement for Rota viruses Reporting requirement.
At Adenoviruses These are non-enveloped DNA viruses, of which there are 51 serotypes (subgroups) that cause diseases in humans.
You will mean Droplet infection or smear infection (fecal-oral) transfer. Mainly they solve Respiratory infections out. But there are also serotypes, especially in children Gastroenteritis (Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract) or diarrhea trigger.
The viruses can be detected in swabs from throat swabs or in stool samples.
There is no therapy for adenoviruses. One treats therefore symptomatic. However, this is only necessary in the event of a severe course of the disease. A mild infection heals on its own.
Noroviruses are very environmentally resistant RNA viruses. you will be ingested with food and by means of Smear infection (fecal-oral) transfer.
you are highly infectious and can also be sent via Droplet infection be transmitted. In the case of gushing vomiting, fine droplets get into the air, which are then inhaled by healthy people.
Classically, they lead to Food poisoning when eating contaminated food. Noro viruses are very common, especially in young people Gastroenteritis (Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract) with vomiting diarrhea.
The severe gastrointestinal flu usually lasts 1-3 days and stops by itself.
Since there is no causal therapy, only that will symptomatic treated. Above all, it is important that dehydration balance. In the case of very old patients or small children, a short stay in hospital may be necessary in order to control the fluid balance. This also applies to patients with other previous illnesses and general weakness.
There is a legal requirement for infections with noroviruses Reporting requirement.
Sapoviruses are also very environmentally resistant germs. Mainly they are through Smear infection transfer. You solve Gastroenteritis with children and are detected in the stool. Here, too, only one takes place purely symptomatic therapy.
These viruses appear star-shaped in the electron microscope, which is why they are Astroviruses is called. You are too very environmentally resistant.
In children, they solve acute gastrointestinal flu with fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
They are the ones after the Rotaviruses second leading cause of gastroenteritis in children.
They can be detected in the chair.
Your therapy takes place symptomatic, with gastrointestinal flu going away on its own after a few days.
For more information, see: Gastrointestinal virus
If one speaks colloquially that one has "upset one's stomach", that is usually one queasy feeling and nausea meant. This can be from stomach pain be accompanied. Then nausea often leads to Vomit and can have various causes.
The following is an overview of the various causes of a "sore stomach“.
Most of the time, when you talk about having "spoiled your stomach", you mean one Food poisoning. At first glance, poisoning sounds like a life-threatening situation, but this is not the case in the cases mentioned here. Most of the time, it just arises through contaminated food.
The causative agent is mostly Staphylococcus aureus, a skin germ that can be transferred to meat by the butcher, for example.
It then accumulates on the food and multiplies there, especially after the food has been standing around for a long time.
Long cooking kills the germs though from, but eating insufficiently cooked food can result in poisoning. Some of the toxins formed by the germs can also survive cooking.
Other bacteria that can cause such poisoning are clostridia, molds and bacilli. The symptoms usually appear shortly after consuming the food and are quite severe.
First you should Drink plenty of waterto counteract the loss of fluids caused by vomiting and diarrhea.
It is recommended to have one light food with easily digestible carbohydrates. These include, for example, white bread, rusks and pretzel sticks.
Flatulent foods such as dairy products, alcohol, raw vegetables and coffee should be avoided.
It doesn't hurt one To see a doctorwhen the discomfort is very severe.
Mostly are such stomach ailments self-limiting and stop after 1 to 3 days.
For bacterial infections, for example through salmonella or listeria, which lead to very severe diarrhea, is one Antibiotic therapy indexed.
If complaints like Problems with sight, swallowing, or speech occur, should be prompt a Called an ambulance become.
That can be an indication of a Botox poisoning be. Botulinum toxin or short Botox can in bloated food cans be included. One should absolutely discard and no longer consume.
A botulinum toxin poisoning is caused by a Antitoxin treated immediately.
Food poisoning or infections of this kind usually go away after 2-3 days if there is no fever and the diarrhea is not bloody.
The Complaints sound by themselves spontaneous from and a therapy is, if anything, only symptomatic makes sense.
For more complicated processes, which are caused by salmonella, for example, is one Antibiotic therapy indexed.
If the stomach is irritated by infectious diseases such as gastrointestinal flu, inflammation or food poisoning, this can be very uncomfortable for those affected.
One is plagued by nausea, may lack appetite and feel uncomfortable. But the opposite can also be the case: You are hungry, but you don't really know what your stomach can handle in such a sensitive situation. Here are some ways you can calm your stomach:
So-called help with nausea Antiemetics. These are drugs that prevent vomiting.
These include, for example Antihistamines or Dopamine antagonists. They work at the vomiting center of the brain stem and thus inhibit the urge to vomit.
But there is also natural fabricsthat relieve nausea. These are chamomile, ginger, peppermint and fennel. You can drink as tea and so calm his stomach well.
The warmth of the tea is also good for spasmodic pain.
stomach pain and Stomach cramps often occur in the context of gastrointestinal diseases, inflammation or a lot of stress.
Warmth and bed rest can provide relief.
Help here too natural means how chamomile, Caraway seed or linseedto calm the irritated stomach.
In addition, one should do without alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
Often it also helps with the stress Relaxation exercises to reduce.
Acidic foods and eating too quickly or in a hurry should be avoided. That can only put additional strain on the stomach.
So-called Antispasmodics, like for example Buscopan, relieve cramps. They can also help against stomach pain.
Help with excessive acidity and heartburn Antacidswhich neutralize stomach acid. In addition, there is still Proton pump inhibitorsthat inhibit the formation of stomach acid and thus relieve acid-related pain.
