The ligaments of the stomach are formed by the serosa (the outermost layer of the stomach wall) and the peritoneum. They extend between the stomach and the nearest organs and participate in fixing the stomach in place.

The stomach is fixed with the following ligaments:

• Hepatogastric ligament - connects the liver with the stomach; extends from the fissure for the ligamentum venosum and porta hepatis to the lesser curvature of the stomach; it contains the left and right gastric vessels and lymph nodes;
• Gastrophrenic ligament - extends from the cardiac notch and proximal portion of the greater curvature to the inferior (abdominal) surface of the diaphragm; connects the stomach with the diaphragm; it contains the left inferior phrenic artery;
• Gastrosplenic (gastrolienal) ligament - connects the stomach with the spleen; stretches from the greater curvature of the stomach to the hilum of the spleen; it contains the short gastric arteries and the left gastroepiploic (gastroomental) artery;
• Gastrocolic ligament - extends from the greater curvature of the stomach to the anterior surface of the transverse colon; connects the stomach with the colon.; it contains the left and right gastroepiploic (gastroomental) vessels.

These four stomach ligaments prevent the twisting and turning of the gastroesophageal junction and the pylorus.

Note: The hepatogastric ligament, together with the hepatoduodenal ligament, forms the lesser omentum (Read more!), which extends between the stomach, duodenum and liver. In contrast, the greater omentum (Read more!) is found inferiorly to the stomach - it hangs down from its greater curvature as the gastrocolic ligament.