The stomach is positioned within the abdominal cavity. It is located in several regions, including the epigastric, umbilical, left hypochondriac and left lateral (lumbar) regions. Therefore, it forms connections with various organs, and it is connected to other organs mostly by the peritoneum and its folds.

The lesser omentum extends around the stomach and connects the lesser curvature of the stomach to the liver. It is formed by the hepatogastric and hepatoduodenal ligaments. The greater omentum is found inferiorly to the stomach - it hangs down from its greater curvature.

Relations of stomach

The most important relations of the stomach include the following:

Superior - esophagus and left dome of the diaphragm;
Anterior - left lobe of the liver, thoracic cage, anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm;
Posterior - diaphragm, body and tail of the pancreas, splenic artery, spleen, left kidney and left adrenal gland;
Inferior - duodenum, transverse colon, greater omentum and coils of the small intestine.

Ligaments of stomach

The ligaments of the stomach are formed by the peritoneum. They extend to the nearest organs and fixate the stomach in its place. They include the following ligaments:

Hepatogastric ligament - connects the liver with the stomach; extends from the porta hepatis to the lesser curvature of the stomach;
Gastrophrenic ligament - extends from the cardiac notch found on the greater curvature to the inferior surface of the diaphragm; connects the stomach with the diaphragm;
Gastrosplenic ligament - connects the stomach with the spleen; stretches from the greater curvature of the stomach to the splenic hilum;
Gastrocolic ligament - stretches from the greater curvature to the anterior surface of the transverse colon; connects the colon with the stomach.

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Location and relations of stomach