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What Is the Relationship between the Stomach and Duodenum?

Jillian O Keeffe
Jillian O Keeffe

Both the stomach and duodenum are parts of the digestive system. Food enters the stomach first, where it is partially processed, and it then travels into the duodenum, the first portion of the small intestine. The duodenum is the first location in the body to absorb nutrients from the food, once the stomach breaks it down in a preparatory step.

The function of the stomach is to be a collection area for food, and to add acid to the food to help it break down. To accommodate an entire meal, the stomach is expandable. Basically, it is a large pouch that has an outer covering of muscle that can shrink and expand the stomach to help mash up food. To speed up the breakdown of food, the stomach also produces substances like stomach acid and enzymes. As well as releasing substances inside the stomach pouch, the organ also sends biological signals to the brain to indicate whether a person is full or hungry.

Food is first processed in the stomach, then moves to the duodenum, which begins to absorb nutrients.
Food is first processed in the stomach, then moves to the duodenum, which begins to absorb nutrients.

In the digestive tract, the stomach and duodenum are attached, and the stomach is first. The duodenum is part of the small intestine, and is followed by the jejunum and the ileum. It is the point where the body absorbs all the broken down components of the food, for use in the rest of the body. The Latin word duodenarius which means "twelve," is the origin of the word duodenum, as the distance from the start to the end of this part of the digestive system is about 12 finger widths long. The stomach and the duodenum are separated by a muscular area at the end of the stomach called the pylorus.

Both the stomach and the duodnum are parts of the digestive system.
Both the stomach and the duodnum are parts of the digestive system.

As food in the stomach needs processing before entering the next step in digestion, the duodenum, a type of biological gateway is necessary. This gateway between the stomach and duodenum is the pylorus, which contracts and expands to push food onward into the duodenum. The pyloric sphincter is a tight muscular ring that blocks the food from getting back into the stomach.

The stomach sends biological signals to the brain to indicate whether a person is full.
The stomach sends biological signals to the brain to indicate whether a person is full.

When food moves between the stomach and duodenum it is very acidic. Substances that are alkaline enter into the duodenum to give the food a neutral pH. The small digestive organs the gallbladder and the pancreas produce these alkaline compounds along with more substances that can digest food even further. The body can then absorb nutrients through the wall of the duodenum, and this continues further along the small intestine.

Discussion Comments

SarahGen

Has anyone here had a duodenal switch procedure done? My dad is considering this procedure but he's still researching and thinking about it. As far as I understand, the procedure entails removing part of the stomach and re-attaching the duodenum in a different way for weight loss.

What are the advantages and risks of this procedure? Does it work? How does it affect the function of the stomach and duodenum?

fify

@literaly45-- Yes, they can. If there is a problem with the pyloric sphincter, acid and tumors in the stomach could move into the duodenum and cause pain. This is how duodenum ulcers usually develop. In people who experience excessive stomach acidity, the acid can get into the duodenum and cause inflammation and ulcers there. This can happen even in those with healthy stomachs, if the pyloric sphincter doesn't close all the way.

The duodenum is made to tolerate an alkaline pH. Stomach contents are too acidic for it and acid leaking into the duodenum can cause many issues.

literally45

Can stomach ailments cause pain in the duodenum?

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    • Food is first processed in the stomach, then moves to the duodenum, which begins to absorb nutrients.
      By: Balint Radu
      Food is first processed in the stomach, then moves to the duodenum, which begins to absorb nutrients.
    • Both the stomach and the duodnum are parts of the digestive system.
      By: nerthuz
      Both the stomach and the duodnum are parts of the digestive system.
    • The stomach sends biological signals to the brain to indicate whether a person is full.
      By: and.one
      The stomach sends biological signals to the brain to indicate whether a person is full.
    • The first job of the duodenum is to counter the acidic nature of the chyme or the partially digested food passing from the stomach.
      By: joshya
      The first job of the duodenum is to counter the acidic nature of the chyme or the partially digested food passing from the stomach.
    • In humans, the duodenum runs from the stomach to the jejunum, with the ileum making up the last section of the small intestine.
      By: graphicgeoff
      In humans, the duodenum runs from the stomach to the jejunum, with the ileum making up the last section of the small intestine.