The esophagus is an eight-inch tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. This organ is very muscular. After swallowing, the chewed food masses are transported through the esophagus. A ring of muscle called the “lower esophageal sphincter” or “cardiac sphincter” is located at the lower end of the esophagus. Automatically, this sphincter closes the end of the esophagus to prevent stomach contents from traveling backwards. Once food passes through the esophagus, it is ready to be transferred to the stomach. The stomach is a sac-shaped organ responsible for temporarily storing ingested food. This J-shaped organ is located on the left side of the abdominal cavity. Multiple longitudinal folds, called “rugae,” contract to allow the incredibly elastic stomach to expand as food enters. Amazingly, the stomach can hold a capacity of 1.5 liters of material. In addition to storing food, the stomach also functions to digest food both mechanically and chemically. It is where most of the gastric glands are located. As you fill up with food, the gastric glands within the stomach lining secrete digestive juices and acids that are very potent. Every day the gastric glands produce two liters of corrosive gastric juices. These digestive juices contain enzymes that break down proteins. In The Way We Work, author David Macauley states, “Digestion without enzymes would be like a football game without players: without action and without result” (119). Amino acids, present in proteins, must be reduced into simple components. Enzymes carry out this task. Amino acids split when the protein molecule binds to the correct enzyme. As noted above, hydrochloric acid in the stomach dissolves food and kills… half of the paper… the most common ones are: gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS), celiac disease and Crohn's disease. These and other disorders permanently disrupt the digestive system. Gastric ulcers are breaks in the stomach lining that turn into open sores. These ulcers vary in size and can be microscopic or more than an inch in diameter. People with ulcers feel pain in the upper abdomen after eating. These ulcers are caused by excess stomach acid eating away at the stomach lining. Ulcers can heal using medications that help reduce the amount of stomach acid. In severe cases, bleeding ulcers can tear a hole through the stomach wall causing stomach contents to leak out. If this occurs, surgery is required to close the opening. Gastric ulcers definitely cause stomach discomfort.