Stomach

body · digestion · organ

Muscle bag. The stomach is a hollow, muscular organ in your upper digestive tract that squishes and churns the food you eat.

Acid power. It releases gastric acid and special enzymes that chemically break food down into a mushy soup.

Smell starts it. Even the sight and smell of food, plus chewing, can get your stomach ready to digest before food arrives.

Not just humans. Lots of animals have stomachs too, including some invertebrates without backbones.

Ancient name. The Greek word for stomach is 'gaster,' which is why doctors use the word 'gastric' for stomach things.