Rugae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rugae is a term used in anatomy that refers to a series of ridges produced by folding of the wall of an organ. Most commonly the term is applied to the internal surface of the stomach. The stomach rugae may be seen during esophagogastroduodenoscopy or in radiological studies. They provide the stomach with a lower amount of surface area for food. When food enters the stomach, these rugae fold and become stretched in. The purpose is to allow it to expand.This therefore allows expansion in volume of the stomach without increased pressure.

Other locations that rugae appear in humans:

• Wrinkles of the scrotum
• Hard palate immediately behind the upper anterior teeth
• Urinary bladder
• Vagina
• Gallbladder

v • d • e Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract Upper GI: to stomach Mouth • Pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx) • Esophagus • Crop Upper GI: stomach rugae – gastric pits – cardia/gland – fundus/gland – pylorus/gland – pyloric antrum – pyloric canal – greater curvature – lesser curvature – angular incisure Lower GI: intestines Small intestine: Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duodenal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Jejunum • Ileum • continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds) Junction: Vermiform appendix • Ileocecal valve Large intestine: Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon) • continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix) Lower GI: termination Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton's white line Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle Lower GI: lymph GALT: Peyer's patches (M cells)