Stomach

The stomach is located at the uppermost part of the abdomen between the liver and the spleen and above the colon. In the past, the most common disease involving the stomach was peptic ulcer (gastric ulcer, or duodenal ulcer), but for the last several years now it has been treated with appropriate medication and has become very rare. Today, very few patients need operations for ulcer disease and only when their ulcer is associated with a serious complication, such as significant bleeding, or perforation. The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid and specific hormones (peptides), which all take part in the initial stages of digestion. The stomach also “mixes” the ingested food and pushes towards the duodenum, which is the first part of the intestine.