12 interesting facts about the Stomach

  1. The word stomach is derived from the Latin stomachus which is derived from the Greek word stomachos, ultimately from stoma (στόμα), "mouth".
  2. People can, and have lived without a stomach if it has been removed because of disease!
  3. Inside the stomach there is hydrochloric acid which kills bacteria and provides acidic conditions to the enzyme protease.
  4. Historically, it was widely believed that the highly acidic environment of the stomach would keep the stomach immune from infection. However, a large number of studies have indicated that most cases of peptic ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer are caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.
  5. The stomach is a muscular organ of the digestive tract. It is located between the esophagus and the small intestine.
  6. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.
  7. The stomach produces protease enzymes and hydrochloric acid which kills bacteria and gives the right pH(1.2) for the protease enzyme to work.
  8. The frog throws up its stomach first, so the stomach is dangling out of its mouth.
  9. An adults stomach can hold approximately 1.5 liters of material.
  10. When we swallow our food, we also swallow air. This air causes most of the gas in your stomach and intestinal tract. The best way to get rid of this air is to burp!
  11. Your stomach produces a new layer of mucus every two weeks so it doesn’t digest itself.
  12. A starfish can turn its stomach inside out. A moth has no stomach.