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What You Need To Know About™ Stomach Cancer
    Posted: 08/30/2005



Introduction







The Stomach






Understanding Cancer






Risk Factors






Symptoms






Diagnosis






Staging






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The Stomach

The stomach is part of the digestive system. It is a hollow organ in the upper abdomen, under the ribs.

The wall of the stomach has five layers:

  • Inner layer or lining (mucosa): Juices made by glands in the inner layer help digest food. Most stomach cancers begin in this layer.
  • Submucosa: This is the support tissue for the inner layer.
  • Muscle layer: Muscles in this layer create a rippling motion that mixes and mashes food.
  • Subserosa: This is the support tissue for the outer layer.
  • Outer layer (serosa): The outer layer covers the stomach. It holds the stomach in place.

Food moves from the mouth through the esophagus to reach the stomach. In the stomach, the food becomes liquid. The liquid then moves into the small intestine, where it is digested even more.

This picture shows the stomach and nearby organs.

This picture shows the stomach and nearby organs.

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