Fundus of the Stomach Flashcards

Explore the gastric fundus, its dome-shaped structure, anatomical relations, secretory cells, blood supply, and clinical significance.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the fundus of the stomach?

The dome-shaped superior portion of the stomach located above the level of the cardiac orifice.

In This Section

1. What is the fundus of the stomach?

The dome-shaped superior portion of the stomach located above the level of the cardiac orifice.

2. In which abdominal region is the gastric fundus primarily located?

The left hypochondriac region.

3. Which part of the stomach lies immediately inferior to the fundus?

The body of the stomach.

4. What anatomical landmark separates the fundus from the gastric body?

An imaginary horizontal plane passing through the cardiac orifice.

5. Which indentation separates the fundus from the abdominal esophagus?

The cardiac notch, which forms the angle of His.

6. Which structure lies immediately superior to the gastric fundus?

The left dome of the diaphragm.

7. Which organ lies lateral to the gastric fundus?

The spleen.

8. Which peritoneal ligament connects the gastric fundus to the spleen?

The gastrosplenic ligament.

9. How is the gastric fundus classified in relation to the peritoneum?

It is intraperitoneal and covered by visceral peritoneum except at its ligamentous attachments.

10. What is the principal storage function of the gastric fundus?

It accommodates swallowed food and gas through receptive relaxation and gastric accommodation.

11. Why is a gas bubble commonly visible within the gastric fundus on an upright abdominal radiograph?

Swallowed gas rises and collects in the superior portion of the stomach.

12. Which four principal layers form the wall of the gastric fundus?

Mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, and serosa.

13. What are gastric rugae?

Folds of the gastric mucosa and submucosa that flatten as the stomach distends.

14. Which type of gastric glands predominates in the fundus?

Fundic glands, also called oxyntic glands.

15. Which epithelial type lines the luminal surface of the gastric fundus?

Simple columnar mucus-secreting epithelium.

16. Which cells in the fundic glands secrete hydrochloric acid?

Parietal cells, also called oxyntic cells.

17. Which substance secreted by fundic parietal cells is necessary for vitamin B12 absorption?

Intrinsic factor.

18. Which cells of the fundic glands produce pepsinogen?

Chief cells, also called zymogenic cells.

19. Which endocrine cells in the gastric fundus produce ghrelin?

X/A-like enteroendocrine cells, also called P/D1 cells in humans.

20. What is the principal physiological role of ghrelin secreted by the gastric fundus?

It promotes hunger and participates in the regulation of energy balance.

21. Which arteries provide the principal arterial supply to the gastric fundus?

The short gastric arteries, usually arising from the splenic artery.

22. Through which peritoneal ligament do the short gastric arteries reach the fundus?

The gastrosplenic ligament.

23. Which additional artery may contribute to the blood supply of the gastric fundus?

The posterior gastric artery, when present, usually arising from the splenic artery.

24. Through which veins does blood from the gastric fundus primarily drain?

The short gastric veins, which drain into the splenic vein.

25. Which lymph nodes receive much of the lymphatic drainage from the gastric fundus?

Pancreaticosplenic lymph nodes along the splenic artery, followed by celiac lymph nodes.

26. Which nerves provide parasympathetic innervation to the gastric fundus?

Branches of the anterior and posterior vagal trunks derived from the vagus nerves.

27. Which autonomic plexus distributes sympathetic fibers to the gastric fundus?

The celiac plexus, through periarterial pathways associated with the gastric arteries.

28. Why can splenic vein thrombosis produce isolated gastric fundal varices?

Obstruction of splenic venous drainage raises pressure in the short gastric veins and their submucosal connections.

29. Why must the short gastric vessels be protected or carefully divided during surgery near the splenic hilum?

They connect the fundus to the splenic vessels and may cause significant bleeding if injured.

30. Which bariatric procedure removes most of the gastric fundus?

Sleeve gastrectomy, which removes much of the greater curvature and fundus.