The Stomach (AQA GCSE Biology)

The Stomach

• The stomach is an organ that forms part of the digestive system; its roles include:

  • churning food to break it into smaller pieces

  • producing protease enzymes

    • Protease enzymes, e.g. pepsin, digest proteins into amino acids

  • the production of stomach acid

• We can illustrate different levels of organisation by looking at the stomach

  • Cells

    • The stomach contains cells that are specialised to, e.g. secrete protease enzymes, stomach acid or mucus which protects the stomach lining from acid

  • Tissues, e.g.

    • Glandular tissue contains cells that secrete substances, e.g. enzymes or stomach acid

    • Muscle tissue contains cells that can contract, allowing the stomach to church food

    • Epithelial tissue lines the stomach

  • Organs

    • The stomach is an example of an organ; it is a group of tissues that work together to carry out part of the process of digestion

  • Organ systems

    • The stomach works together with a series of other organs in the digestive system to digest food

The stomach contains muscular, epithelial and glandular tissues which work together to allow the stomach to carry out its role in digestion