The gastric folds (or gastric rugae) are coiled sections of tissue that exist in the mucosal and submucosal layers of the stomach.[1] They provide elasticity by allowing the stomach to expand when a bolus enters it. These folds stretch outward through the action of mechanoreceptors, which respond to the increase in pressure.[2] This allows the stomach to expand, therefore increasing the volume of the stomach without increasing pressure.[2] They also provide the stomach with an increased surface area for nutrient absorption during digestion.[2] Gastric folds may be seen during esophagogastroduodenoscopy or in radiological studies.[3][4]
Gastric folds | |
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Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | plicae gastricae |
TA98 | A05.5.01.028 |
TA2 | 2915 |
FMA | 75653 |
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata] |
The gastric folds consist of two layers:
Thickening of the gastric folds may be observed by endoscopy or radiography and may aid in the differential diagnosis of many disease processes including:[3]
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