Pylorus

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Pylorus
Gray1046.svg
Outline of stomach, showing its anatomical landmarks
Gray1050.png
Inside of the stomach (pylorus labeled at center left)
Latin Pylorus
Gray's subject #247 1164

The pylorus (pron.: /pˈlɔərəs/ or /pɨˈlɔərəs/; from the Greek πυλωρός, "gate guard") is the region of the stomach that connects to the duodenum (the beginning of the small intestines). It is divided into two parts:

The pyloric sphincter, or valve, is a strong ring of smooth muscle at the end of the pyloric canal which lets food pass from the stomach to the duodenum. It receives sympathetic innervation from the celiac ganglion.

The adjectival form of pylorus is pyloric (pron.: /pˈlɔərɪk/ or /pɨˈlɔərɪk/).

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Clinical significance [edit]

One medical condition associated with the pylorus is pyloric stenosis.[1] One method of relieving this partial or complete obstruction is the surgical placement of a pyloric stent. This stent is synthetic tube which maintains patency between the stomach and proximal duodenum.

In such conditions as stomach cancer, tumours may partly block the pyloric canal. A special tube can be implanted surgically to connect the stomach to the duodenum so as to facilitate the passage of food from one to the other. This tube is called a gastroduodenostomy.

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See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://www.pyloricspasms.info

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