From Esophagus to Stomach: The Next Stage of Digestion

After passing through the esophagus (gullet), food enters the stomach—a J-shaped, muscular organ situated in the upper left abdomen, just beneath the rib cage. The stomach serves as a temporary reservoir where mechanical churning and chemical digestion (via gastric acid and enzymes) further break down food into a semi-liquid mixture called chyme, which then passes into the small intestine for nutrient absorption.