The part of the stomach attached to the esophagus. The cardia begins immediately distal to the z-line of the gastroeosphageal junction, where the squamous epithelium of the esophagus gives way to the columnar epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract[WP] [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardia http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/BTO_0000198 ]

Synonyms: gastric cardia pars cardiaca (gaster) cardial part of stomach pars cardiaca gastricae stomach cardiac region

This is just here as a test because I lose it

Term information



latin term
pars cardiaca gastricae [ FMA:TA FMA:14561 ]

depicted by


editor note

There were previously conflicting statements in the academic anatomy community[10][11][12] over whether the cardia is part of the stomach, part of the esophagus or a distinct entity. Modern surgical and medical textbooks have agreed that 'The gastric cardia is now clearly considered to be part of the stomach'[13][14]. Classical anatomy textbooks, and some other resources[15], describe the cardia as the first of 4 regions of the stomach. This makes sense histologically because the mucosa of the cardia is the same as that of the stomach[WP]
We follow Kardong in defining stomach regions by glands.

has alternative id


has related synonym

cardiac region
cardiac orifice
cardial orifice
cardiac antrum
antrum cardiacum