Gastric acid is produced by parietal cells (also known as oxyntic cells) in the stomach. Its secretion is a complex and energetically expensive process. Parietal cells contain an extensive secretory network (called canaliculi) from which the gastric acid is secreted into the lumen of the stomach. These cells are part of epithelial fundic glands in the gastric mucosa. The pH of gastric acid is 2-3 in the stomach lumen, the acidity being maintained by the proton pump, a H+/K+ ATPase. The parietal cell releases bicarbonate into the blood stream in the process, which causes the temporary rise ...

See also:

Gastric acid, Gastric acid - Physiology, Gastric acid - Regulation of secretion, Gastric acid - Role in disease, Gastric acid - Pharmacology

Read more here: » Gastric acid: Encyclopedia II - Gastric acid - Physiology

See also:

Gastric acid, Gastric acid - Physiology, Gastric acid - Regulation of secretion, Gastric acid - Role in disease, Gastric acid - Pharmacology

Read more here: » Gastric acid: Encyclopedia II - Gastric acid - Role in disease

The stomach lies between the esophagus and the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). It is on the left side of the abdominal cavity, the fundus of the stomach lying against the diaphragm. Lying beneath the stomach is the pancreas, and the greater omentum hangs from the greater curvature. It is divided into five sections, each of which have different cells and functions. The gastric juice which is in the stomach has a pH of 1-3. The pH (power of hydrogen) scale goes from 1 to 14; the lower the pH, the more acidic a substance is. Sometimes gastric juice erodes t ...

See also:

Stomach, Stomach - Anatomy of the human stomach, Stomach - Histology of the human stomach, Stomach - Control of secretion and motility, Stomach - Diseases

Read more here: » Stomach: Encyclopedia II - Stomach - Anatomy of the human stomach

In patients who are asymptomatic, treatment is not usually recommended. In gastric ulcer patients where H. pylori is detected, normal procedure is eradication to allow the ulcer to heal. The standard first-line therapy is a one week triple-therapy of amoxicillin, clarithromycin and omeprazole – though sometimes a different proton pump inhibitor is substituted, or metronidazole is used in place of amoxicillin in those allergic to penicillin. Such a therapy has revolutionised the treatment of gastric ulcers and has made ...

See also:

Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori - History, Helicobacter pylori - Structure of the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori - Infection and diagnosis, Helicobacter pylori - Treatment, Helicobacter pylori - Gastric cancer connection, Helicobacter pylori - Acid reflux and esophageal cancer, Helicobacter pylori - Genome studies of different strains

Read more here: » Helicobacter pylori: Encyclopedia II - Helicobacter pylori - Treatment

Gastric cancer (rare) and gastric MALT lymphoma (lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) have been associated with H. pylori, and the bacterium has been categorized as a group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). While the association is reasonably strong, it is not entirely clear that there is a causal relationship involved. Two related mechanisms by which H. pylori could promote cancer are under investigation. One mechanism involves the enhanced production of free radicals ...

See also:

Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori - History, Helicobacter pylori - Structure of the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori - Infection and diagnosis, Helicobacter pylori - Treatment, Helicobacter pylori - Gastric cancer connection, Helicobacter pylori - Acid reflux and esophageal cancer, Helicobacter pylori - Genome studies of different strains

Read more here: » Helicobacter pylori: Encyclopedia II - Helicobacter pylori - Gastric cancer connection

In anatomy, the stomach (in ancient Greek στόμαχος) is an organ in the alimentary canal used to digest food. Generally, the stomach's primary function is not the absorption of nutrients from digested food; this task is usually performed by the intestine. The main job of the stomach is to break down large food molecules into smaller ones, so that they can be absorbed into the blood more easily. Latin names for the stomach include Ventriculus and Gaster; many medical terms related to the stomach ...

Including:

Stomach - Anatomy of the human stomach Stomach - Histology of the human stomach Stomach - Control of secretion and motility Stomach - Diseases

Read more here: » Stomach: Encyclopedia - Stomach

In 1875, German scientists found spiral bacteria in the lining of the human stomach; the bacteria could not be grown in culture and the results were eventually forgotten[2]. In 1892, the Italian researcher Giulio Bizzozero described spiral bacteria living in the acidic environment of the stomach of dogs. Professor Walery Jaworski of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków investigated sediments of gastric washings obtained from humans in 1899 ...

See also:

Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori - History, Helicobacter pylori - Structure of the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori - Infection and diagnosis, Helicobacter pylori - Treatment, Helicobacter pylori - Gastric cancer connection, Helicobacter pylori - Acid reflux and esophageal cancer, Helicobacter pylori - Genome studies of different strains

Read more here: » Helicobacter pylori: Encyclopedia II - Helicobacter pylori - History

An antacid is any substance, generally a base, that counteracts stomach acidity. It is taken by mouth to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, or acid indigestion. Most antacids buffer gastric acid, raising the pH to reduce acid damage. If antacids are ineffective, medication (H2-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors) may relieve the symptoms. Poor response to medication may be a reas

Read more here: » Antacid: Encyclopedia - Antacid

A cytoprotectant is any medication that combats ulcers not by reducing gastric acid but by increasing mucosal protection. Drugs that work in this manner include Carbenoxolone, deglycyrrhizinised liquorice, sucralfate (aluminium hydroxide and sulphated sucrose), the prostaglandin analogue and tri-potassium di-citrato bismuthate. Other related archivesgastric acid, liquorice, medication, prostaglandin, sucrose, ulcers

Read more here: » Cytoprotectant: Encyclopedia - Cytoprotectant

In general, a chief cell (or a "zymogenic cell") is a cell which releases a precursor enzyme. There are two types of chief cells which are most commonly referenced: A "gastric chief cell" or "peptic cell" is a cell in the stomach that releases pepsinogen and rennin. It works in conjunction with the Parietal cell which releases gastric acid, converting the pepsinogen into pepsin. Often when the term "chief cell" is used without qualification, this is the type meant. The parathyroid chief cell is ...

Read more here: » Chief cell: Encyclopedia - Chief cell

VIP is a peptide hormone containing 28 amino acid residues. Its role in the intestine is to greatly stimulate secretion of water and electrolytes, as well as dilating intestinal smooth muscle, dilating peripheral blood vessels, and inhibiting gastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion. It is also found in the brain and some autonomic nerves. One region of the brain includes a specific region of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which is the location of the 'master pacemaker'. Given that the SCN is responsible for detecting ambie ...

Read more here: » Vasoactive intestinal peptide: Encyclopedia - Vasoactive intestinal peptide

H. pylori is a spiral-shaped gram-negative bacterium, about 3 micrometres long with a diameter of about 0.5 micrometre. It has 4-6 flagella. It is microaerophilic, i.e. it requires oxygen but at lower levels than those contained in the atmosphere. It uses hydrogen methanogenesis as an energy source. It tests positive for oxidase and catalase. With its flagella and its spiral shape, the bacterium drills into the mucus layer of the stomach, and then can either be found suspended in the gastric mucosa or attached to epithelial cel ...

See also:

Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori - History, Helicobacter pylori - Structure of the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori - Infection and diagnosis, Helicobacter pylori - Treatment, Helicobacter pylori - Gastric cancer connection, Helicobacter pylori - Acid reflux and esophageal cancer, Helicobacter pylori - Genome studies of different strains

Read more here: » Helicobacter pylori: Encyclopedia II - Helicobacter pylori - Structure of the bacterium

Aspiration pneumonia is a specific form of lung infection (pneumonia) that develops when oral or gastric contents (including food, saliva, or nasal secretions) enter the bronchial tree. Depending on the acidity of the aspirate, a chemical pneumonitis can develop, and bacterial pathogens (particularly anaerobic bacteria) may add to the inflammation. Aspiration pneumonia - Causes. Aspiration pneumonia is often caused by an incompetent swallowing mechanism, such as occurs in some forms of neurological ...

Including:

Aspiration pneumonia - Causes Aspiration pneumonia - Location

Read more here: » Aspiration pneumonia: Encyclopedia - Aspiration pneumonia

Infection may be symptomatic or asymptomatic (without visible ill effects). It is estimated that up to 70% of infection is asymptomatic. The bacteria have been isolated from feces, saliva and dental plaque of infected patients, which suggests gastro-oral or fecal-oral as possible transmission routes. It is estimated that about 2/3 of the world population are infected by the bacterium. Actual infection rates vary from nation to nation - the West (Western Europe, North America, Australasia) having rates around 25% and the Third W ...

See also:

Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori - History, Helicobacter pylori - Structure of the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori - Infection and diagnosis, Helicobacter pylori - Treatment, Helicobacter pylori - Gastric cancer connection, Helicobacter pylori - Acid reflux and esophageal cancer, Helicobacter pylori - Genome studies of different strains

Read more here: » Helicobacter pylori: Encyclopedia II - Helicobacter pylori - Infection and diagnosis

Several strains are known, and the genomes of two have been completely sequenced[11]. The genome consists of 26695 strain has about 1.7 million base pairs, with some 1550 genes. The two sequenced strains show large genetic differences; with up to 6% of the nucleotides differing. Study of the H. pylori genome is centered on attempts to understand pathogenesis, the ability of this organism to cause disease. There are 62 genes in the "patho ...

See also:

Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori - History, Helicobacter pylori - Structure of the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori - Infection and diagnosis, Helicobacter pylori - Treatment, Helicobacter pylori - Gastric cancer connection, Helicobacter pylori - Acid reflux and esophageal cancer, Helicobacter pylori - Genome studies of different strains

Read more here: » Helicobacter pylori: Encyclopedia II - Helicobacter pylori - Genome studies of different strains

Like the other parts of the gastrointestinal system, the stomach walls are made of a number of layers. Starting inside the (the lumen) going out, the first main layer is the mucosa. This consists of an epithelium, the lamina propria underneath, and a thin bit of smooth muscle called the muscularis mucosa. The submucosa lies under this and consists of fibrous connective tissue, it separates the mucosa from the next layer, the muscularis externa. The muscularis in the stomach differs from other GI organs in t ...

See also:

Stomach, Stomach - Anatomy of the human stomach, Stomach - Histology of the human stomach, Stomach - Control of secretion and motility, Stomach - Diseases

Read more here: » Stomach: Encyclopedia II - Stomach - Histology of the human stomach

The movement and the flow of chemicals into the stomach are controlled by both the autonomic nervous system and by various digestive system hormones. The hormone gastrin causes an increase in the secretion of HCl, pepsinogen and intrinsic factor from parietal cells in the stomach. It also causes increased motility in the stomach. Gastrin is released by G cells in the stomach to distenstion of the antrum, and digestive products. It is inhibited by a pH normally ...

See also:

Stomach, Stomach - Anatomy of the human stomach, Stomach - Histology of the human stomach, Stomach - Control of secretion and motility, Stomach - Diseases

Read more here: » Stomach: Encyclopedia II - Stomach - Control of secretion and motility

Proton pump inhibitors act by irreversibly blocking the hydrogen-potassium adenosine triphosphatase enzyme system (the K+/H+-ATPase, or more commonly just proton pump) of the gastric parietal cell. The proton pump is the terminal stage in gastric acid secretion, being directly responsible for secreting H+ ions into the gastric lumen, making it an ideal target for inhibiting acid secretion. Targeting the terminal-step in acid production, as well as the irreversible nature of the inhibition, result in a class of drugs that is significantly more effective than H2 ...

See also:

Proton pump inhibitor, Proton pump inhibitor - Clinical Use, Proton pump inhibitor - Mechanism of action, Proton pump inhibitor - Pharmacokinetics, Proton pump inhibitor - Examples of proton pump inhibitors, Proton pump inhibitor - Adverse effects

Read more here: » Proton pump inhibitor: Encyclopedia II - Proton pump inhibitor - Mechanism of action

Parietal cells produce gastric acid (hydrochloric acid) in response to histamine (via H2 receptors), acetylcholine (M3 receptors) and gastrin (gastrin receptors). The histamine receptors act by increasing intracellular cAMP, whereas the muscarinic and gastrin receptors increase intracellular Ca2+ levels. Both cAMP and Ca2+ acts via protein kinases to increase the transport of acid into the stomach. Parietal cells contain an extensive secretory network (called canaliculi) from which the HCl i ...

See also:

Parietal cell, Parietal cell - Acid production, Parietal cell - Intrinsic factor, Parietal cell - Diseases of parietal cells

Read more here: » Parietal cell: Encyclopedia II - Parietal cell - Acid production

In fundoplication, the fundus (upper part) of the stomach is wrapped around (-plication) the inferior part of the esophagus, preventing the reflux of gastric acid (in GERD) or preventing the sliding of the fundus through the enlarged hiatus in the diaphragm. The procedure is often done laparoscopically (keyhole surgery). ...

See also:

Nissen fundoplication, Nissen fundoplication - The procedure, Nissen fundoplication - Complications, Nissen fundoplication - History

Read more here: » Nissen fundoplication: Encyclopedia II - Nissen fundoplication - The procedure